 Joystick Boat Control Innovations: What’s New and Noteworthy |
In 2006, Volvo Penta launched joystick technology in combination with the Inboard Propulsion System (IPS) for powerboats. Having a joystick at the helm was a massive leap forward in technology, given that little had changed about maneuvering systems since the early days of boating. Since then, the company has continued to prove that not all joysticks are created equal. While the first iteration helped only with docking, Volvo Penta continued to develop joystick features like the Dynamic Positioning System (DPS), which integrates with satellites and the Global Positioning System (GPS) to keep a boat in place. Joystick Steering, which arrived in 2012, lets boaters use the joystick in addition to wheel, allowing them to steer comfortably at all speeds with only one hand. |
More recently, there’s been Assisted Docking, which reduces stress when pulling into a marina slip. And now, Volvo Penta has unveiled Joystick Driving, which integrates shift, throttle and steering into a single joystick control that’s not on the dashboard, but instead in the armrest of driver’s seat. All of these features were unimaginable with old-school steering systems, says Jens Bering, vice president of marine sales for Volvo Penta of the Americas. “A joystick is an interface, just like a steering wheel is an interface,” he says. “A joystick gives you different features that you can activate, and it becomes more and more of an interface with the additional features we can add.” |
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