Inventors:
Larrie D. Ferreiro - Fairfax VA
Timothy C. Smith - Gaithersburg MD
William L. Thomas - Hanover MD
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC
International Classification:
B63B 3900
Abstract:
The invention is directed to a system for stabilizing a marine vehicle against rolling and pitching motions and for providing steering control to the marine vehicle. The system includes at least two rudders rotatably affixed to the marine vehicle aft of marine vehicle propellers and canted approximately 45. degree. to the vertical; at least two rudder actuators, one actuator associated with each of the rudders, for providing a predetermined dynamic rotational motion to each rudder; at least one power unit for providing power to the rudder actuators; and a control unit for determining the predetermined dynamic rotation of each of the rudders and for generating control signals corresponding thereto. The control signals are provided to the at least one power unit for regulating the power provided to the actuator units wherein the control unit independently controls the movement of each of the rudders such that the rudders cooperate to provide steering control to the marine vehicle and to stabilize the marine vehicle against rolling and pitching motions.