Easy Boating by Paola Bertelli
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he Swedish company has long been involved in the development of systems developed around a new concept and philosophy that Volvo Penta calls “Easy Boating”. The aim is to make sailing easier, more manageable and more en-
joyable for all. The early 2000s saw the arrival of IPS propulsion systems, followed by the first control joysticks, followed by EVC (Electronic Vessel Control) and DPS (Dynamic Positioning System). Now the new Assisted Docking marks another important step into the future. The aim is to simplify mooring manoeuvres, and automation and integration are crucial elements. The automation is made possible by sophisticated
Volvo Penta’s Assisted Docking is an innovative mooring system from the Swedish company, based on automation and integration. Sailing is becoming increasingly simple
software that anticipates and interprets the skipper’s intentions, while integration is enabled by the fact that the system dialogues and interacts with the on-board electronics. At the heart of the system lie the joysticks controlling the craft’s movements and the antenna for the Dynamic Positioning System – based on GPS technology – essential for identifying the yacht’s exact location in real time. The skipper at the wheel will ask the
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The Assisted Docking system optimises the skipper’s orders via the joystick with automatic compensation, enabled by a software that dialogues with the GPS and takes account of external factors like wind and current
system, through the joystick, for the direction and speed to adopt. The software then comes into play, controlling and compensating in line with external variables like wind and current, making it easy for the yacht to remain on the intended route. When the joystick is moved forwards, for example, the system plots a straight route, and the yacht will begin to follow a straight line at the indicated speed without the need for any manual adjustments. The EVC system will then take account of any external forces like wind and current and calculate steering angles and transmission thrust. In this way Volvo Penta Assisted Docking provides the skipper with a safer, simpler and more precise mooring experience. At the moment this technology is available for vessels powered by new-generation Volvo Penta IPS 10 systems. Retrofitting and installation on larger propulsion units will be available in the near future. Volvo Penta Assisted Docking is another step forward in the development of a totally automated self-docking system – in fact, a prototype was presented a few years ago. www.volvopenta.com
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