Marine input device saturation

Abstract

An input device for navigational control of a marine vessel has processing circuitry to obtain a requested input device input in response to a maneuvering of the input device; obtain a distance between the marine vessel and a closest obstacle located in a direction indicated by the requested input device input; and control saturation of the input device at least based on the distance. The processing circuitry is integrated in the input device and configured to control the saturation independently of control circuitry of the marine vessel external to the input device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An input device for navigational control of a marine vessel, the input device comprising processing circuitry configured to:
 obtain a requested input device input in response to a maneuvering of the input device;   obtain a distance between the marine vessel and a closest obstacle located in a direction indicated by the requested input device input; and   control saturation of the input device at least based on the distance,   wherein the processing circuitry is integrated in the input device and configured to control the saturation independently of control circuitry of the marine vessel external to the input device.   
     
     
         2 . The input device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to retain saturation control settings in a state disconnected from the marine vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The input device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to automatically detect and adapt to specific control characteristics of the marine vessel in response to a connection therewith being detected. 
     
     
         4 . The input device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry includes a data logging function configured to record saturation events in relation to requested input device inputs. 
     
     
         5 . The input device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is enclosed in a housing arranged in the input device. 
     
     
         6 . The input device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to further base the saturation control on one or more saturation profiles stored in a memory of the input device. 
     
     
         7 . The input device of  claim 6 , wherein a saturation profile comprises one or more of a saturation limit, response curve, vessel characteristic, environmental adaptation, operator preference, safety margin, control mode, and redundancy setting. 
     
     
         8 . The input device of  claim 6 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to store historical data in the memory unit including historical input device usage and saturation events. 
     
     
         9 . The input device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control saturation of the input device by attenuating a responsiveness of the maneuvering of the input device as the marine vessel is approaching the closest obstacle, attenuating the responsiveness comprising controlling a force feedback unit arranged in the input device to apply a force feedback to the input device. 
     
     
         10 . The input device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to adjust the saturation control based on a user-selected operational mode, including at least one of a docking mode, a cruising mode, and maneuvering in restricted waters. 
     
     
         11 . The input device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to enable obtaining and updating of firmware modifying the integrated processing circuitry based on marine vessel updates. 
     
     
         12 . The input device of  claim 1 , wherein the input device is arrangeable in the marine vessel in conjunction with one or more second input devices involving respective integrated processing circuitry, the input device together with the one or more second input devices being configured for collaborative control of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The input device of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more second input devices are associated with different saturation control settings than the input device. 
     
     
         14 . The input device of  claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a position sensor configured to obtain position data of a position of the input device relative to boundaries of the marine vessel, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to adapt one or more saturation control settings based on the position data. 
     
     
         15 . The input device of  claim 1 , being detachably arranged in the marine vessel. 
     
     
         16 . The input device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to obtain a velocity of the marine vessel in the direction towards the closest object and control the saturation based on said obtained speed of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         17 . A marine vessel comprising the input device of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . A computer-implemented method for navigational control of a marine vessel, wherein the steps of the method are performed by processing circuitry integrated in the input device and configured to control saturation independently of control circuitry of the marine vessel external to the input device, wherein the method comprises:
 obtaining a requested input device input in response to a maneuvering of the input device;   obtaining a distance between the marine vessel and a closest obstacle located in a direction indicated by the requested input device input; and   controlling saturation of the input device at least based on the distance.   
     
     
         19 . A computer program product comprising program code for performing, when executed by processing circuitry, the method of  claim 18 . 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform the method of  claim 18 .