Ship loading vehicle positioning system

Abstract

The invention provides a ship loading vehicle positioning system. The ship loading vehicle positioning system comprises a sensing layer, a transmission layer, a service layer and an application layer, the sensing layer comprises a positioning label and a positioning base station, the positioning label is installed on a vehicle loaded on a ship, the positioning base station is installed in a vehicle cabin of the ship, and the positioning label is used for transmitting a vehicle positioning signal to the positioning base station; the transmission layer is used for transmitting the vehicle positioning signal acquired by the positioning base station to the service layer; positioning engine software is deployed on the service layer and is used for resolving current parking space information of the vehicle according to the vehicle positioning signal; and the application layer comprises a display screen and is used for displaying the current parking space information of the vehicle, so that accurate positioning and tracking of the vehicle on the roller ship are realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of vehicle positioning, and particularly relates to a vehicle positioning system for ship loading. Background Art

[0002] A roll-on / roll-off ship (abbreviated as "ro / ro") is a ship that allows vehicles or wheeled equipment to drive onto / off through a ramp. In addition to having a ramp at the stern or side of the ship, its structural feature also includes a through deck, that is, the deck runs through from the bow to the stern. When referring to a roll-on / roll-off ship alone, it usually does not include passenger-cargo mixed ships. Among them, there are full-cargo ships that only carry wheeled goods (generally vehicles), such as the common PCC (pure car carrier). Larger PCC ships have more than ten decks, and their internal structure is similar to a parking building, which is designed specifically for new car transportation and has no passenger cabins on board.

[0003] As an efficient roll-on / roll-off ship, a PCTC ship can carry a large number of cars and has numerous vehicle decks. A conventional PCTC ship can carry 7,000 to 10,000 cars. However, due to the large number of cars it loads, the loading time is relatively long.

[0004] From the perspective of the prior art, when a PCTC ship transports vehicles, due to the particularity of the goods it transports, involving vehicles of various different sizes and weights, the orderly arrangement of vehicles on each vehicle deck needs to be considered during the loading process.

[0005] However, the prior art has the following problems: it is difficult to accurately determine the specific positions of a large number of vehicles on the ship, and the demand for effective vehicle positioning cannot be met; at the same time, the owner cannot know in time whether the vehicle has been successfully loaded onto the ship, and it is difficult to find out whether there are missing vehicles or goods that do not match the description. There is a lack of effective means for accurate inventory and tracking of vehicles. Therefore, a special program needs to be developed to locate and track each vehicle. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle positioning system for ship loading, including a sensing layer, a transmission layer, a service layer, and an application layer; the sensing layer includes positioning tags and positioning base stations. The positioning tags are installed on the vehicles loaded on the ship, and the positioning base stations are installed in the vehicle compartments of the ship. The positioning tags are used to transmit vehicle positioning signals to the positioning base stations; the transmission layer is used to transmit the vehicle positioning signals obtained by the positioning base stations to the service layer; a positioning engine software is deployed on the service layer, which is used to calculate the current parking position information of the vehicle according to the vehicle positioning signals; the application layer includes a display screen, which is used to display the current parking position information of the vehicle.

[0007] In some embodiments, the vehicle positioning signal is transmitted between the positioning tag and the positioning base station through an ultra-wideband communication channel.

[0008] In some embodiments, other information other than the vehicle positioning signal is exchanged between the positioning tag and the positioning base station through a ZigBee communication channel.

[0009] In some embodiments, the positioning tag further includes at least one of the following components: a battery with a charging function, a button with an alarm function, and an NFC chip.

[0010] In some embodiments, multiple positioning base stations are arranged in each vehicle compartment, and each positioning base station adopts wireless synchronization technology and POE power supply.

[0011] In some embodiments, the service layer transmits the current parking position information of the vehicle to the application layer through the network layer.

[0012] In some embodiments, the service layer further includes at least one of the following modules: a system management software module and an external interface software module; the system management software module is used to implement the management of the vehicle positioning system for ship loading; the external interface software is used to perform data interaction with other data systems.

[0013] In some embodiments, the application layer further includes a loading interface and a parking position verification and alarm module; the loading interface is used to import vehicle loading plan information, and the vehicle loading plan information includes the loading plan parking position information of the vehicle; the parking position verification and alarm module is used for at least one of the following functions: comparing the current parking position information of the vehicle with the loading plan parking position information, and controlling the display screen and the positioning tag to send out a first alarm message when a preset deviation occurs; controlling the display screen and the positioning tag to send out a second alarm message when the vehicle drives out of the ship.

[0014] In some embodiments, the application layer further includes a vehicle binding and electronic fence module; the vehicle binding and electronic fence module is used to bind the vehicle identification corresponding to the vehicle with the corresponding electronic fence, and output a third alarm message when the vehicle exceeds the boundary of the corresponding electronic fence.

[0015] In some embodiments, the application layer further includes a multi-system integration module; the multi-system integration module is used to integrate the vehicle positioning system for ship loading with other systems, and the other systems include at least one of the following: a vehicle loading system and a vehicle compartment fire protection system.

[0016] The beneficial effects brought by the present invention are as follows:

[0017] As can be seen from the above solution, the embodiment of the present invention provides a ship-loading vehicle positioning system, which includes a sensing layer, a transmission layer, a service layer, and an application layer; the sensing layer includes a positioning tag and a positioning base station, the positioning tag is installed on the vehicle loaded on the ship, the positioning base station is installed in the vehicle cabin of the ship, and the positioning tag is used to transmit the vehicle positioning signal to the positioning base station; the transmission layer is used to transmit the vehicle positioning signal obtained by the positioning base station to the service layer; the positioning engine software is deployed on the service layer, which is used to calculate the current parking position information of the vehicle according to the vehicle positioning signal; the application layer includes a display screen, which is used to display the current parking position information of the vehicle, realizing accurate positioning and tracking of the vehicle on the ro-ro ship. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 FIG. is a schematic structural diagram of a ship-loading vehicle positioning system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 FIG. is a schematic diagram of a positioning tag provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 FIG. is a schematic diagram of a positioning base station provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 FIG. is a schematic diagram of a display screen provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 FIG. is a schematic flow chart of a control method for another ship waste heat recovery system provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, the described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 1 FIG. is a schematic structural diagram of a ship-loading vehicle positioning system provided by an embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 1 shown, the ship-loading vehicle positioning system includes a sensing layer, a transmission layer, a service layer, and an application layer;

[0025] The sensing layer includes a positioning tag and a positioning base station. The positioning tag is installed on the vehicle loaded on the ship, the positioning base station is installed in the vehicle cabin of the ship, and the positioning tag is used to transmit the vehicle positioning signal to the positioning base station;

[0026] The transmission layer is used to transmit the vehicle positioning signal obtained by the positioning base station to the service layer;

[0027] The positioning engine software is deployed on the service layer and is used to calculate the current parking space information of the vehicle according to the vehicle positioning signal;

[0028] The application layer includes a display screen for outputting the current parking space information of the vehicle.

[0029] As Figure 1 shown, the perception layer is responsible for obtaining the original vehicle positioning data. The perception layer includes a positioning tag and a positioning base station. The positioning tag is installed on the vehicle and is a signal transmission device, such as Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a positioning tag provided by an embodiment of the present invention; the positioning base station is installed in the vehicle cabin of the ship and is a signal receiving device, such as Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a positioning base station provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] In some embodiments, the vehicle positioning signal is transmitted between the positioning tag and the positioning base station through an ultra-wideband communication channel. Specifically, an ultra-wideband (UWB) communication channel is adopted between the positioning tag and the positioning base station. The positioning tag transmits an ultra-wideband signal, and the positioning base station receives the signal through this channel and calculates the tag position according to algorithms such as time difference of arrival (TDOA) and angle of arrival (AOA) to achieve high-precision positioning of 10 cm; a high-gain antenna is also set on the positioning tag to ensure effective signal transmission, and the optimized radio frequency circuit reduces signal loss. The combined effect enables the coverage distance to reach 30 m - 150 m.

[0031] In some embodiments, other information other than the vehicle positioning signal is exchanged between the positioning tag and the positioning base station through a ZigBee communication channel. Specifically, the ZigBee technology is used to realize data interaction between the positioning base station and the positioning tag, which is used to transmit other relevant information other than the positioning signal, such as device status, control instructions, etc., to realize two-way communication between the positioning base station and the positioning tag.

[0032] In some embodiments, the positioning tag further includes at least one of the following components: a battery with a charging function, a button with an alarm function, and an NFC chip. Specifically, the positioning tag is built-in with a large-capacity rechargeable battery, and can last for 3.5 months after being charged for 3 hours; a one-key alarm is also set on the positioning tag. When an abnormal situation occurs in the vehicle, the positioning tag can send an alarm message to the positioning base station through the ZigBee communication channel via this key, and the positioning base station can send back a paging instruction to achieve two-way interaction; an NFC chip is also built-in on the positioning chip. The NFC chip integrates radio frequency identification (RFID) function and follows relevant communication protocols. When approaching a card reader, it can exchange data through radio frequency signals to achieve one-card functions such as identity recognition and payment. Preferably, the positioning tag uses a sealing rubber ring, waterproof potting glue, etc. to seal the internal circuit of the positioning tag, and the outer shell is made of waterproof material meeting the IP68 standard to prevent water and dust from invading and ensure the normal operation of the internal circuit.

[0033] In some embodiments, multiple positioning base stations are arranged in each vehicle cabin, and each positioning base station adopts wireless synchronization technology and POE power supply. Specifically, the number of positioning base stations is determined according to the length of the vehicle cabin and arranged in each layer of the vehicle cabin, which can achieve the coverage of the entire layer of vehicles. The coverage distance of each positioning base station reaches 20 - 100m. Each positioning base station adopts wireless synchronization technology, which is mainly realized by a high-precision clock synchronization circuit and a synchronization signal processing module. The clock synchronization circuit provides a stable and accurate clock signal for the base station to keep the time reference consistent among the base stations. The synchronization signal processing module is responsible for receiving, analyzing, and processing the synchronization signals from other base stations to ensure the synchronization of the positioning base stations in time and guarantee the accuracy and stability of positioning. The positioning base station adopts POE power supply, that is, it is realized by means of a POE power receiving module and an Ethernet interface. The POE power receiving module can extract power from the Ethernet cable to supply power to the base station equipment, reducing the laying of additional power lines to achieve minimalist power supply. The Ethernet interface is responsible for data transmission, transmitting the positioning tag signals and other relevant data received by the positioning base station to the vehicle positioning system through the local area network, and is also used to receive control instructions and configuration information from the system to achieve the networking function.

[0034] In addition, it should be noted that the positioning base station also has strong stability, anti-occlusion, and anti-interference performance, which can be achieved from both hardware and software aspects. Hardware-wise, high-gain and good-directionality antennas are used to enhance the signal reception ability and improve the penetration of obstacles; excellent shielding materials are selected to shield the internal circuit to reduce the influence of external electromagnetic interference on the base station. Software-wise, advanced signal processing algorithms are used to filter, error-correct, etc. the received signals to improve the stability and reliability of the signals. For example, an adaptive filtering algorithm is adopted to automatically adjust the filter parameters according to the environmental interference situation to effectively suppress interference signals.

[0035] The positioning base station also adopts an outdoor signal full-coverage and waterproof deployment method, which can be achieved through a waterproof housing and an optimized antenna layout. The waterproof housing adopts a sealed design and combines components such as waterproof rubber rings and waterproof breathable valves to ensure that the internal circuits of the base station are isolated from the external environment, preventing water and dust from entering and adapting to the harsh outdoor environment. The optimized antenna layout enables the base station to effectively receive signals in all directions, achieving full outdoor signal coverage. For example, an omnidirectional antenna or a combination of multiple directional antennas is used to cover different angles and areas.

[0036] The transmission layer is responsible for transmitting the vehicle positioning signals obtained by the positioning base station to the service layer. It includes two methods: a wireless transmission network and a wired transmission network. The wireless transmission network uses the WIFI communication channel, and the wired transmission network uses the POE (Power over Ethernet) communication channel to transmit the vehicle positioning information obtained by the sensing layer to the service layer.

[0037] The service layer deploys positioning engine software, which is the core component of the service layer. It receives the vehicle positioning signals transmitted by the transmission layer and uses pre-deployed positioning algorithms for coordinate calculation. For example, by comprehensively analyzing information such as the time difference and signal strength of signals received by multiple positioning base stations, the current parking position information of the vehicle is calculated, providing accurate data support for the application layer to realize vehicle positioning and management functions.

[0038] The application layer is a central control system, including a display screen directly facing the user. It receives the current parking position information of the vehicle calculated by the service layer and presents it to the user in an intuitive way. For example, the specific position of the vehicle on each deck of the ship is displayed in a graphical interface on the display screen, or different colors can be used to distinguish different types of vehicles for convenient unified management, such as Figure 4 which is a schematic diagram of a display screen provided for an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] The vehicle positioning system for ship loading provided by this embodiment can achieve accurate positioning and tracking of vehicles on the ship, facilitate the management and traceability of vehicles by the ship, and can also be used as an inventory basis for the purchaser.

[0040] Figure 5 which is a schematic structural diagram of another vehicle positioning system for ship loading provided for an embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 5 shown, the application layer further includes a loading interface and a parking space verification and alarm module. The loading interface is used to import vehicle loading plan information, and the vehicle loading plan information includes the planned parking space information of the vehicle. The parking space verification and alarm module is used for at least one of the following functions: comparing the current parking position information of the vehicle with the planned parking space information of the vehicle, and controlling the display screen and the positioning tag to send out a first alarm message when a preset deviation occurs; controlling the display screen and the positioning tag to send out a second alarm message when the vehicle drives out of the ship.

[0041] Specifically, the application layer includes a loading interface whose main function is to import vehicle loading plan information. Among this information, a very important part is the vehicle loading plan parking space information. Before actual ship loading operations, the staff formulate a detailed vehicle loading plan through a loading computer to clarify the specific parking space where each vehicle should be parked.

[0042] The parking space verification and alarm module will accurately compare the current parking space information of the vehicle with the loading plan parking space information. This is because during the actual loading process, various unexpected situations may occur, resulting in the vehicle's parking position not conforming to the plan. When the parking space verification and alarm module detects a preset deviation, it realizes two-way alarms at the central control and the positioning tag, reminding the management staff and the loading and unloading staff in real time.

[0043] On the other hand, considering the normal departure of the vehicle from the ship, the parking space verification and alarm module will realize two-way alarms at the central control and the positioning tag after the positioning tag exits the ship area, reminding the management staff and the loading and unloading staff to recover the positioning tag in time.

[0044] In some embodiments, the application layer further includes a vehicle binding and electronic fence module; the vehicle binding and electronic fence module is used to bind the vehicle identifier corresponding to the vehicle with the corresponding electronic fence, and output a third alarm message when the vehicle exceeds the boundary of the electronic fence.

[0045] Specifically, before loading vehicles onto the ship, the staff assigns a unique vehicle identifier to each vehicle, installs a positioning tag on the vehicle at the same time, and associates and binds the vehicle identifier with the positioning tag. According to the actual layout and management requirements of the ship, using the electronic map function in the system software of the application layer, virtual electronic fence boundaries are drawn. These electronic fences can be specific areas on the ship, such as vehicle loading and unloading areas, parking areas, etc., and electronic fences of different shapes (such as circular, rectangular, polygonal, etc.) and sizes can be set according to different management purposes. The vehicle binding and electronic fence module associates and binds the vehicle identifier already bound to the vehicle with the set electronic fence. In this way, the system establishes a corresponding relationship between the vehicle and a specific activity area. During the vehicle transportation process, the positioning tag continuously emits signals, the positioning base station receives the signals and transmits them to the service layer for processing, and the application layer obtains the vehicle's position information in real time. When the vehicle moves and exceeds the boundary of its bound electronic fence, the vehicle binding and electronic fence module will detect this change, and the module will immediately output an alarm message. This alarm message can be displayed on the display screen of the central control system and also sent to the terminal devices (such as mobile phones, walkie-talkies, etc.) of relevant management staff, reminding the management staff that the vehicle has crossed the boundary, so as to take timely measures, such as stopping the vehicle's illegal behavior, preventing vehicle loss or safety accidents, etc.

[0046] In some embodiments, the application layer further includes a multi-system integration module; the multi-system integration module is used to integrate the ship vehicle loading positioning system with other intelligent systems, and the other intelligent systems include at least one of the following: vehicle loading system, vehicle cabin fire protection system.

[0047] Specifically, there are a large number of vehicles transported by ships, and the efficiency of traditional loading methods is relatively low. In this embodiment, the multi-system integration module integrates the ship vehicle loading positioning system with the vehicle loading system, which can optimize the loading process. The vehicle loading system will formulate a detailed loading plan, including the parking positions of vehicles, loading sequences, etc. The multi-system integration module transmits the real-time position information of the vehicles obtained by the positioning system to the vehicle loading system, and the loading system arranges the entry and exit of vehicles reasonably according to this information to ensure that the vehicles are parked in the designated parking spaces quickly and accurately, thus avoiding the disorderly movement and waiting of vehicles in the loading area, greatly saving the loading time, improving the operation efficiency of the ship, and reducing the operation cost.

[0048] In addition, there are fire hazards during the transportation of vehicles, and quickly locating the burning vehicle is crucial for fire extinguishing work. The multi-system integration module connects the ship vehicle loading positioning system with the vehicle cabin fire protection system. Devices such as temperature sensors in the vehicle cabin fire protection system monitor the temperature in the vehicle area in real time. Once the temperature rises abnormally, the fire protection system is triggered to alarm. At this time, the multi-system integration module combines the vehicle position information in the vehicle positioning system with the alarm information of the fire protection system to realize the superimposed display of the vehicle position and temperature status on the display screen, enabling the staff to quickly know the specific position of the faulty vehicle and guiding the firemen to quickly reach the scene for fire extinguishing, achieving precise fire extinguishing and minimizing property losses.

[0049] In some embodiments, the service layer also transmits the current parking space information of the vehicle to the application layer through the network layer. Specifically, the network layer includes a ship local area network. The service layer sends the packaged current parking space information of the vehicle through the ship local area network. During the transmission process, the ship local area network uses wired or wireless communication methods to ensure stable and fast data transmission, ensuring that the data can be accurately transmitted from the service layer to the application layer.

[0050] In some embodiments, the service layer further includes at least one of the following: system management software module, external interface software module; the system management software module is used for the overall function management of the ship vehicle loading positioning system; the external interface software is used for data interaction with other data systems.

[0051] Specifically, the system management software module manages all functions of the system. Starting from the data collection of the positioning tags and base stations in the perception layer, to the data transmission in the transmission layer, and then to the regulation of the positioning engine software for calculating parking space information, the system management software module is involved in all of these. It can optimize and adjust the positioning accuracy to ensure that the system always maintains a high-precision positioning of 10 cm. It can also monitor the running status of the system in real time. Once an abnormality is detected, such as the signal interruption of a certain positioning base station, it will quickly take measures to repair it to ensure the normal operation of the system.

[0052] During the operation of the ship, the vehicle positioning system on the ship needs to work in coordination with other data systems. The external interface software module can adopt corresponding interface protocols and data formats according to different data systems, such as the cargo management system and transportation scheduling system of the ship, to achieve data interaction. It can transmit the vehicle positioning information, parking space information, etc. to the cargo management system, facilitating the management personnel to grasp the cargo transportation status in real time. It can also receive instructions from the transportation scheduling system and make corresponding adjustments to the vehicle positioning system to meet the requirements of different transportation tasks. Through the coordinated operation of these two modules, the service layer effectively supports the realization of the functions of the entire vehicle positioning system on the ship.

[0053] The vehicle positioning system on the ship provided in this embodiment imports the vehicle loading plan parking space information through the loading interface to achieve the connection between the plan and actual management. The parking space verification and alarm module can compare the current parking space with the planned parking space. When there is a deviation, it controls the display screen and positioning tags to alarm, which is convenient for timely adjustment to ensure orderly loading. It will also alarm when the vehicle drives out of the ship to prevent the vehicle from being lost and improve safety. The combination of the two not only improves the vehicle loading efficiency, but also enhances the safety and accuracy of vehicle management, providing strong support for the vehicle transportation management on the ship.

[0054] It should be noted that in this article, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the term "comprising", "including" or any other variation thereof is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device comprising a series of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. Without further limitation, an element defined by the statement "comprising a..." does not exclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article or device comprising the element.

[0055] The above are the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the principle of the present invention, several improvements and refinements can be made, and these improvements and refinements should also be regarded as the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle positioning system for a ship, characterized in that, It includes a perception layer, a transmission layer, a service layer and an application layer; The perception layer includes positioning tags and positioning base stations. The positioning tags are installed on the vehicles loaded on the ship, and the positioning base stations are installed in the vehicle compartments of the ship. The positioning tags are used to transmit vehicle positioning signals to the positioning base stations; The transmission layer is used to transmit the vehicle positioning signals obtained by the positioning base stations to the service layer; The positioning engine software is deployed on the service layer and is used to calculate the current parking position information of the vehicle according to the vehicle positioning signals; The application layer includes a display screen for displaying the current parking position information of the vehicle.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein The vehicle positioning signals are transmitted between the positioning tags and the positioning base stations through ultra-wideband communication channels.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein Other information other than the vehicle positioning signals is interacted between the positioning tags and the positioning base stations through ZigBee communication channels.

4. The system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The positioning tags further include at least one of the following components: a battery with a charging function, a button with an alarm function, and an NFC chip.

5. The system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, Multiple positioning base stations are arranged in each vehicle compartment, and each positioning base station adopts wireless synchronization technology and POE power supply.

6. The system according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The service layer transmits the current parking position information of the vehicle to the application layer through the network layer.

7. The system according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The service layer further includes at least one of the following modules: a system management software module, an external interface software module; The system management software module is used to implement the management of the vehicle positioning system loaded on the ship; The external interface software is used to perform data interaction with other data systems.

8. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The application layer further includes a loading interface and a parking position verification and alarm module, The loading interface is used to import vehicle loading plan information, and the vehicle loading plan information includes the planned parking position information of the vehicle; The parking position verification and alarm module is used for at least one of the following functions: Comparing the current parking position information of the vehicle with the planned parking position information of the loading plan, and controlling the display screen and the positioning tags to issue a first alarm message when a preset deviation occurs; When the vehicle drives out of the ship, controlling the display screen and the positioning tags to issue a second alarm message.

9. The system according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The application layer further includes a vehicle binding and electronic fence module; The vehicle binding and electronic fence module is used to bind the vehicle identification corresponding to the vehicle with the corresponding electronic fence, and output a third alarm message when the vehicle exceeds the boundary of the corresponding electronic fence.

10. The system according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The application layer further includes a multi-system integration module; The multi-system integration module is used to integrate the vehicle positioning system loaded on the ship with other systems, and the other systems include at least one of the following: a vehicle loading system, a vehicle compartment fire protection system.

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