Pneumatic fender remote management system and method

Abstract

The present invention provides a management system and method capable of reliably ascertaining the state of a pneumatic fender remotely while avoiding severe restriction in wireless communication. Each accommodation container 3, in which a sensor 2, a transmission / reception terminal 9, and a battery 10 are accommodated, is mounted inside a pneumatic fender 15 that is horizontally placed. The accommodation container 3 is attached to a mouthpiece 16a and extended in the cylinder-axis direction of the pneumatic fender 15. The transmission / reception terminal 9 is configured to have a non-directional antenna 9b extending in the cylinder-axis direction. Thus, wireless communication based on a prescribed LPWA communication standard is performed between the transmission / reception terminal 9 and a relay device 11A, and data detected by the sensor 2 is transmitted from the transmission / reception terminal 9 to the relay device 11A by means of the non-directional antenna 9b, and is transmitted to a communication network through the relay device 11A. A management index based on the detected data is displayed on a specific terminal device 12 connected to the communication network 13.

Description

System and method for remote management of pneumatic fenders

[0001] The present invention relates to a remote management system and method for pneumatic fenders, and more particularly to a management system and method that can reliably grasp the status of pneumatic fenders remotely while avoiding the strict constraints of wireless communication.

[0002] A method has been proposed in which a container containing a sensor is attached to the mouth fitting of a pneumatic fender, and the sensor detects the internal pressure and temperature of the fender (see Patent Document 1). In this proposed method, the sensor communicates wirelessly with a receiver outside the fender, and the sensor data is acquired by the receiver. This detection data makes it possible to understand the condition of the fender.

[0003] A chain net attached to the outer periphery of the fender is connected to the mouthpiece. This mouthpiece and chain net cause radio wave interference when the sensor and receiver communicate wirelessly. Therefore, the receiver must be positioned appropriately to ensure stable wireless communication between them. Because fenders sway due to waves and rotate around their cylindrical axis, the receiver must be positioned in an appropriate location at the right time to ensure more stable wireless communication. Furthermore, wireless communication is subject to various restrictions (legal regulations). Therefore, there is room for improvement in reliably monitoring the status of fenders remotely while avoiding the strict restrictions on wireless communication.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-76609

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a management system and method that can reliably grasp the status of pneumatic fenders remotely while avoiding the strict limitations of wireless communication.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a remote management system for pneumatic fenders, which comprises a sensor that detects detection data indicating the state of the pneumatic fender, a transmitting / receiving terminal connected to the sensor, a battery that operates the sensor and the transmitting / receiving terminal, and a container that houses the sensor, the transmitting / receiving terminal, and the battery and is installed inside the pneumatic fender, and in which management indicators based on the detection data are displayed on a specific terminal device, and which also comprises a relay device that is installed outside the pneumatic fender and wirelessly communicates with the transmitting / receiving terminal. The storage container is attached to a mouth fitting of the pneumatic fender in a horizontally placed position and extends in the axial direction of the pneumatic fender, the transmitting / receiving terminal has an omnidirectional antenna extending in the axial direction of the cylinder, wireless communication based on a predetermined LPWA communication standard is performed between the transmitting / receiving terminal and the relay device, the detection data is transmitted from the transmitting / receiving terminal to the relay device by the omnidirectional antenna and then transmitted to a communication network via the relay device, and the management indicator is displayed on the specific terminal device connected to the communication network.

[0007] The remote management method for pneumatic fenders of the present invention comprises connecting a transmitter-receiver terminal to a sensor that detects detection data indicating the state of the pneumatic fender, the sensor and the transmitter-receiver terminal being battery-powered, the sensor, the transmitter-receiver terminal, and the battery being housed in a storage container and installed inside the pneumatic fender, and displaying management indicators based on the detection data on a specific terminal device, wherein a relay device that wirelessly communicates with the transmitter-receiver terminal is installed outside the pneumatic fender, the storage container is attached to a mouth fitting of the pneumatic fender that is placed horizontally and extends in the axial direction of the pneumatic fender, the transmitter-receiver terminal is designed to have an omnidirectional antenna extending in the axial direction of the pneumatic fender, and wireless communication based on a predetermined LPWA communication standard is performed between the transmitter-receiver terminal and the relay device, the detection data is transmitted from the transmitter-receiver terminal to the relay device via the omnidirectional antenna and transmitted to a communication network via the relay device, and the management indicators are displayed on the specific terminal device connected to the communication network.

[0008] According to the present invention, wireless communication based on a predetermined LPWA communication standard is performed between the transmitting / receiving terminal installed inside the pneumatic fender and the relay device connected to the communication network, so that the detection data can be transmitted from the transmitting / receiving terminal to the relay device without being subject to strict restrictions on wireless communication between the transmitting / receiving terminal and the relay device.

[0009] The transmitter-receiver terminal is attached to the mouthpiece of the pneumatic fender in a horizontally placed position and has an omnidirectional antenna extending in the axial direction of the pneumatic fender inside the container, which is attached to the mouthpiece of the pneumatic fender and extends in the axial direction of the pneumatic fender. The omnidirectional antenna is located at a position some distance from the outer surface of the pneumatic fender and the mouthpiece. Therefore, even if a chain net is attached to the outer surface of the pneumatic fender, wireless communication between the transmitter-receiver terminal and the relay device is possible using radio waves passing through the gaps between the chains of the chain net. The use of the omnidirectional antenna enables wireless communication between the transmitter-receiver terminal and the relay device without moving the relay device, even if the pneumatic fender sways or rotates around the axial center of the tube. As a result, the management indicators can be stably displayed on the specific terminal device connected to the communication network, which is advantageous for reliably understanding the status of the pneumatic fender remotely.

[0010] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an embodiment of a remote management system for pneumatic fenders. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the internal structure of the pneumatic fender in a longitudinal cross-sectional view with a portion of the pneumatic fender in FIG. 1 cut away. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the pneumatic fender in FIG. 2 as viewed from the front. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an enlarged view of the ferrule in FIG. 3 with the metal cover removed. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the periphery of the ferrule in FIG. 4 as viewed from the longitudinal cross-sectional view. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the state in which the storage container in FIG. 5 has been moved in the axial direction. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a plan view of a pneumatic fender moored at a quay. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which sensor-detected data is transmitted via a direct route between a transmitting / receiving terminal and a relay device. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which sensor-detected data is transmitted via a detour route between a transmitting / receiving terminal and a relay device.

[0011] Hereinafter, a system and method for remotely managing pneumatic fenders according to the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0012] In an embodiment of a remote management system 1 (hereinafter referred to as system 1) for pneumatic fenders illustrated in Fig. 1, the state of a horizontal pneumatic fender 15 (hereinafter referred to as fender 15) used in a horizontally placed state is grasped based on detection data M from a sensor 2 housed in a storage container 3. In this embodiment, the state of a plurality of fenders 15 (15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, 15E) is grasped using specific terminal devices 12 (12a, 12b, 12c).

[0013] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the fender 15 is a hollow rubber body with a cylindrical portion and bowl-shaped portions connected to both axial ends of the cylindrical portion. A reinforcing layer is embedded in the hollow body, and gas (air) is sealed inside. The dashed-dotted line CL in the figures indicates the cylindrical axis extending in the axial direction of the fender 15. Various known specifications of fenders 15 can be used. The fender 15 has a ferrule 16a at one axial end. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the ferrule 16a is a cylindrical, concave metal member, and the surface opening of the ferrule 16a is covered with a metal lid attached with bolts or the like. The ferrule 16a is fitted with a storage container 3, and other components, such as a safety valve 16b, are also fitted. The ferrule 16a may be provided at both axial ends of the fender 15.

[0014] A chain net 16c is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the fender 15. The chains that make up the chain net 16c extend radially from the center (the mouth fitting 16a) in a front view and also extend circumferentially in the bowl-shaped portions at both ends of the fender 15 in the axial direction. In the cylindrical portion of the fender 15, the chains extend in the axial and circumferential directions. Therefore, the chains form a lattice pattern on the outer peripheral surface of the fender 15. Tires or the like are fixed to appropriate positions on the chain net 16c as shock absorbers. The chain net 16c may not be attached to the outer peripheral surface of the fender 15.

[0015] 1 to 6, this system 1 includes a sensor 2, a transmitting / receiving terminal device 9, a battery 10, a storage container 3, and a relay device 11A. The sensor 2, the transmitting / receiving terminal device 9, and the battery 10 are housed in the storage container 3 and arranged inside the fender 15, while the relay device 11A and the specific terminal device 12 are arranged outside the fender 15.

[0016] Wireless communication is performed between the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 and the relay device 11A. The relay device 11A is connected to the communication network 13 wirelessly or by wire. The specific terminal device 12 is a communication device that can be connected to the communication network 13 wirelessly or by wire. Examples of the communication network 13 include the Internet communication network and a specific LAN such as an in-house LAN. In this embodiment, a server 11B is communicatively connected to the communication network 13.

[0017] The sensor 2 detects detection data M that indicates the state of the fender 15. The sensor 2 has a detection unit, a memory unit, and a control unit, and the detection unit acquires the detection data M. The acquired detection data M is stored in the memory unit, and the control unit controls the operation of the sensor 2 (such as the timing of acquiring the detection data M). Examples of the detection data M include internal pressure data of the fender 15, internal temperature data, and acceleration data acting on the fender 15.

[0018] Therefore, the sensors 2 used may include a pressure sensor that detects the internal pressure of the fender 15, a temperature sensor that detects the internal temperature, and an acceleration sensor that detects the acceleration (external force) acting on the fender 15. The respective detected data M of the internal pressure data, internal temperature data, and acceleration data indicate the internal pressure state, temperature state, and external force load state of the fender 15. One or more of these types of sensors 2 are installed on the fender 15. The sensors 2 may have various known specifications. The detected data M is transmitted to the relay device 11A by wireless communication.

[0019] The storage container 3 is attached to a mouth fitting 16a of a fender 15 used in a horizontally placed state, and extends in the axial direction of the fender 15. More specifically, as illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, the storage container 3 comprises a cylindrical container body 4 and a lid 7. A through-hole 16e that passes through the mouth fitting 16a in the axial direction of the cylinder is formed in the mouth fitting 16a, and the container body 4 is inserted through the through-hole 16e. The lid 7 is attached to the mouth fitting 16a with bolts or the like to close the through-hole 16e.

[0020] The container body 4 is, for example, a cylindrical body with one open end and a bottom, and a cylindrical or rectangular cylindrical body can be used. The container body 4 has one circular communication hole 5 penetrating the peripheral wall. A protruding stopper 4a is provided on the peripheral wall at one end of the container body 4. In this embodiment, a flange portion 6 that extends outward beyond the peripheral wall is provided on the other end of the container body 4. The flange portion 6 may be annular and continuous in the circumferential direction, or may be discontinuous in the circumferential direction.

[0021] A rubber O-ring is attached to the peripheral wall surface of the through-hole 16e as a first seal 8a. This first seal 8a contacts the outer peripheral wall surface of the container body 4, thereby airtightly sealing the gap between the container body 4 and the through-hole 16e. For example, a rubber O-ring is attached to the collar surface of the flange portion 6 as a second seal 8b.

[0022] The container body 4 is equipped with a sensor 2, a transceiver terminal 9, and a battery 10. The communication hole 5 functions to connect the interior of the container body 4 with the interior of the fender 15, allowing the sensor 2 to accurately detect the internal pressure and temperature of the fender 15. The number and shape of the communication holes 5 are not particularly limited. For example, multiple communication holes 5 can be scattered throughout the container body 4, or polygonal or slit-shaped communication holes 5 can be used. The container body 4 is preferably made of a non-metallic material so as not to shield the radio waves W used in wireless communication. The container body 4 is made of a resin such as polycarbonate resin, ABS resin, PVC resin, or PP resin. The flange portion 6 and lid portion 7 are also preferably made of these resins.

[0023] The container body 4 is attached to the ferrule 16a so as to be slidable in the axial direction relative to the through-hole 16e. As illustrated in FIG. 7 , when the container body 4 is slid in the axial direction toward the outside of the fender 15, the flange portion 6 cannot pass through the through-hole 16e, which has a smaller outer diameter than the flange portion 6. By abutting the second seal 8b against the ferrule 16b, the container body 4 can be maintained in a state protruding outside the fender 15 while blocking communication between the inside and outside of the fender 15 through the through-hole 16e. When the container body 4 is pushed toward the inside of the fender 15, the stopper 4a engages with an engaging groove formed in the through-hole 16e. This prevents the entire container body 4 from passing through the through-hole 16e and falling into the interior of the fender 15.

[0024] The transmitting / receiving terminal 9 is connected to the sensor 2 and wirelessly transmits the data M detected by the sensor 2 to the relay device 11A. The transmitting / receiving terminal 9 has a module board 9a and an omnidirectional antenna 9b extending in the cylindrical axis direction of the fender 15. The omnidirectional antenna 9b is connected to the module board 9a, and the sensor 2 is mounted on the module board 9a.

[0025] The omnidirectional antenna 9b extending in the cylindrical axis direction transmits radio waves W in all directions 360° around its axis and receives radio waves W from all directions. Various types of known omnidirectional antennas 9b can be used, such as a whip antenna. The extension length of the omnidirectional antenna 9b in the cylindrical axis direction is, for example, about 20 cm. Therefore, the extension length of the container body 4 in the cylindrical axis direction is about 30 cm. The cross-sectional diameter of the cylindrical container body 4 (the diameter of the inscribed circle in the cross section) is, for example, 5 cm or more and 15 cm or less.

[0026] The battery 10 powers the sensor 2 and the transmitting / receiving terminal 9. The battery 10 may be a lithium battery or any other known type. The battery 10 is connected to the module board 9a.

[0027] The relay device 11A wirelessly communicates with each of the transmitting and receiving terminals 9. Wireless communication based on a predetermined LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) communication standard is performed between each of the transmitting and receiving terminals 9 and the relay device 11A. Examples of LPWA include unlicensed bands such as LoRa WAN, Sigfox, WI-SUN, ELTRES, and ZETA, and licensed bands such as NB-IoT, LTE-M, and LTE Cat. 1. In this embodiment, communication based on the unlicensed band LPWA communication standard is performed between each of the transmitting and receiving terminals 9 and the relay device 11A, and wireless communication based on the LoRa WAN communication standard is particularly preferred. Therefore, each of the transmitting and receiving terminals 9 can use various known specifications that allow wireless communication based on the unlicensed band LPWA communication standard with the relay device 11A. Between the relay device 11A and the communication network 13, wireless communication is performed based on, for example, the communication standard of the LPWA of the licensed band described above.

[0028] The relay device 11A has a function of connecting each transmitting / receiving terminal 9 to the server 11B via the communication network 13. Therefore, the relay device 11A can be a gateway device of various known specifications that can connect communication based on the LPWA communication standard of the unlicensed band to the communication network 13.

[0029] Specific terminal devices 12 (12a, 12b, 12c) such as personal computers, tablet terminals, and smartphones are communicatively connected to the communication network 13. The server 11B is located in an office or the like that is responsible for managing the fenders 15, but a cloud server on the communication network 13 can also be used. The specific terminal devices 12 can access the server 11B via the communication network 13 by, for example, entering a preset password.

[0030] Next, an example of the procedure for a remote management method using this system 1 to grasp the state of the fenders 15 at a remote location far away from where the fenders 15 are used will be described.

[0031] 8, a large number of fenders 15 are moored to a quay 17 by connecting ropes 16d. Therefore, a large number of fenders 15 are placed over a wide area. The relay device 11A is fixedly placed at a predetermined position in an office building at the port, but it can also be mounted on a mobile object 14 such as a car or a drone and moved to an appropriate position.

[0032] In this system 1, the sensors 2 set on each fender 15 acquire detection data M at preset intervals (for example, every hour, every 12 hours, every 24 hours, etc.) or at preset times. The timing (interval) at which each sensor 2 acquires the detection data M is set to a desired timing.

[0033] 9, as the detection data M is acquired, it is sequentially transmitted to relay device 11A by radio waves W emitted from omnidirectional antenna 9b of transmitting / receiving terminal 9. The detection data M transmitted to relay device 11A is sequentially transmitted from relay device 11A to server 11B via communication network 13, input, and stored therein. The detection data M is transmitted from transmitting / receiving terminal 9 together with identification information of sensor 2 that detected the detection data M, and the identification information of sensor 2 is also input to server 11B.

[0034] The more frequently the sensor 2 acquires the detection data M and the shorter the intervals at which it transmits the data to the relay device 11A, the more power the battery 10 consumes, but the more recent the detection data M can be acquired. The less frequently the sensor 2 acquires the detection data M and the longer the intervals at which it transmits the data to the relay device 11A, the more power the battery 10 consumes, but the more difficult it becomes to acquire the most recent detection data M. Therefore, an appropriate timing for each sensor 2 to acquire the detection data M is set depending on the importance of managing each fender 15, etc.

[0035] In the server 11B, a management index Mi for the fender 15 is calculated and stored based on the input detection data M. The server 11B pre-stores unique information for each sensor 2 together with its identification information, and also identifies the fender 15 on which each sensor 2 is installed, and stores information on the product specifications, manufacturing history, and placement location of that fender 15. The server 11B stores the management index Mi for that fender 15 and various information about that fender 15 in association with each other. Therefore, by accessing the server 11B, it is possible to ascertain the management index Mi for that fender 15 at a certain point in time, along with the placement location and start date of placement of each fender 15.

[0036] The detected data M may be stored as the control indicator Mi as is, but instead of or in addition to the detected data M, a data value obtained by processing the detected data M may also be used as the control indicator Mi. For example, the difference between the detected internal pressure data M and the reference internal pressure data, the difference between the detected temperature data M and the reference temperature data, or the difference between the detected acceleration data M and the reference acceleration data may also be used as the control indicator Mi. The reference internal pressure data, the reference temperature data, and the reference acceleration data are set in advance as data for when the fender 15 is normal. Therefore, the greater the difference between the detected data M and these reference data, the more it can be determined that the fender 15 is not in a normal state.

[0037] 1 , a user or manager of the fender 15, a person in charge at the manufacturer of the fender 15, or the like can access the server 11B from a specific terminal device 12, and the management indicators Mi stored in the server 11B are displayed on the specific terminal device 12. By referring to the management indicators Mi displayed on the display of the specific terminal device 12, the internal pressure state, temperature state, external force load state, and the like of each fender 15 can be ascertained.

[0038] According to the above-described system 1, communication is performed based on the unlicensed LPWA communication standard between the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 and the relay device 11A installed on each fender 15. Therefore, a highly flexible communication route network can be constructed between the two without being subject to strict legal restrictions on wireless communication, and the detection data M can be transmitted from the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 to the relay device 11A as desired.

[0039] As described above, the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 has an omnidirectional antenna 9b extending in the axial direction inside the fender 15. The omnidirectional antenna 9b is positioned at a certain distance from the outer peripheral surface of the fender 15. Therefore, even if a chain net 16c is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the fender 15, wireless communication between the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 and the relay device 11A is possible via radio waves W passing through the gaps between the chains of the chain net 16c. Furthermore, the omnidirectional antenna 9b protrudes from the ferrule 16a toward the interior of the fender 15 in the axial direction and is positioned at a certain distance from the ferrule 16a. This prevents the radio waves W from being blocked or attenuated by the ferrule 16a. In other words, using the omnidirectional antenna 9b extending in the axial direction from the ferrule 16a toward the interior of the fender 15 is advantageous for avoiding radio wave interference during wireless communication between the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 and the relay device 11A.

[0040] Furthermore, because an omnidirectional antenna 9b is used, even if the fender 15 sways or rotates around its cylindrical axis, radio waves W are transmitted in all directions around the axis of the omnidirectional antenna 9b. This makes it possible to communicate wirelessly between the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 and the relay device 11A without moving the relay device 11A. As a result, it becomes possible to stably display the management index Mi on a specific terminal device 12 connected to the communication network 13, which is advantageous for reliably grasping the status of the fender 15 remotely.

[0041] The container 3 (container body 4) is attached to the fitting 16a and extends in the axial direction toward the inside of the fender 15, so even if a ship or the like comes alongside and the fender 15 is deformed, the deformed fender 15 (hollow rubber body) can be prevented from interfering with the container 3. In other words, this is advantageous for protecting the sensor 2, transmitting / receiving terminal 9, and battery 10 housed in the container 3. If the length of the container body 4 in the axial direction is excessive, there is a risk that the deformed fender 15 will interfere, so the upper limit of the length of the container body 4 in the axial direction is set to, for example, 40 cm.

[0042] However, when the relay device 11A is fixed in a predetermined position, there may be fenders 15 located at a very long distance (for example, several hundred meters or more) from the relay device 11A. Therefore, when the detection data M from the sensor 2 installed on the fender 15 is transmitted from the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 to the relay device 11A, the communication distance between the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 and the relay device 11A may become excessively long.

[0043] When the transmitter / receiver terminal 9 transmits the detection data M via radio waves W from the omnidirectional antenna 9b to the relay device 11A, if the transmission of the detection data M fails (transmission fails), the transmitter / receiver terminal 9 repeats the transmission until it succeeds. Therefore, if the communication distance between the transmitter / receiver terminal 9 and the relay device 11A is excessive, the battery 10 consumes a lot of power for communication between them, or communication becomes impossible. Under weather conditions such as wind and rain that make wireless communication unstable, the battery 10 consumes a lot of power for wireless communication between them, or communication becomes impossible, even if the communication distance between them is relatively short. Therefore, if a method is adopted in which the relay device 11A is mounted on the mobile body 14 and placed close to each fender 15 to ensure stable wireless communication between them, fuel is consumed for the movement of the mobile body 14.

[0044] In this system 1, the communication route of the detection data M from each transmitting / receiving terminal 9 to relay device 11A is set so that when the communication strength S between each transmitting / receiving terminal 9 and relay device 11A is equal to or greater than a preset reference value Sc, a direct route Rd as shown in Fig. 9 is selected, and when the communication strength S is less than the reference value Sc, a detour route Rb as shown in Fig. 10 is selected. This communication strength S is the strength of the radio waves W received by relay device 11A when the detection data M is transmitted to relay device 11A via radio waves W from each transmitting / receiving terminal 9 (non-directional antenna 9b).

[0045] The reference value Sc is determined by, for example, varying the communication strength S by varying the distance between the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 and the relay device 11A at multiple levels, thereby determining the strength of the radio waves W at which the relay device 11A cannot stably receive the detection data M. The upper limit of the determined strength of the radio waves W is determined in advance as the reference value Sc. When the detection data M is transmitted to the relay device 11A via radio waves W from the transmitting / receiving terminal 9, if the strength of the radio waves W received by the relay device 11A is less than the reference value Sc (if the detection data M cannot be received), the detour route Rb is selected without repeating the transmission of the radio waves W.

[0046] The reference value Sc can be converted into a distance and used as the maximum distance between the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 and the relay device 11A at which the relay device 11A can always stably receive the detection data M. Therefore, the setting can be such that the detour route Rb is selected for the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 whose distance from the relay device 11A is greater than the reference value (reference distance value) Sc, and the direct route Rd is selected for the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 whose distance from the relay device 11A is shorter than the reference value (reference distance value) Sc.

[0047] As illustrated in Figure 9, the direct route Rd is a transmission route through which the detection data M is transmitted directly from the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 to the relay device 11A without the intervention of the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 installed in another fender 15. The transmitting / receiving terminals 9 installed in the fenders 15A, 15B, and 15C, which are located relatively close to the relay device 11A, have a short communication distance with the relay device 11A. Therefore, the communication strength S at the relay device 11A of the radio waves W used by the transmitting / receiving terminals 9 installed in these fenders 15A, 15B, and 15C to transmit the detection data M is equal to or greater than the reference value Sc, and therefore the direct route Rd is selected. In other words, the detection data M is transmitted directly from the transmitting / receiving terminals 9 installed in the fenders 15A, 15B, and 15C to the relay device 11A.

[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 10 , the detour route Rb is a transmission route through which, when the detection data M is transmitted from the transceiver terminal 9 (non-directional antenna 9b) to the relay device 11A, the detection data M is transmitted via at least one transceiver terminal 9 installed in another fender 15 between the transceiver terminal 9 and the relay device 11A. The transceiver terminals 9 installed in the fenders 15D and 15E, which are located relatively far from the relay device 11A, have a long communication distance with the relay device 11A. Therefore, the communication strength S of the radio waves W transmitted by the transceiver terminals 9 installed in these fenders 15D and 15E at the relay device 11A is less than the reference value Sc, and therefore the detour route Rb is selected. That is, the detection data M transmitted from the transceiver terminal 9 installed in the fender 15D is transmitted to the relay device 11A via the transceiver terminals 9 installed in one or more other fenders 15.

[0049] For example, the detour route Rb is formed by connecting the other transceiver terminals 9 constituting the detour route Rb with straight lines from the transmitter-receiver terminal 9 at the start point of the detour route Rb to the relay device 11A at the end point, and calculating the total length AL of each straight line. The lines with the shortest calculated total length AL are then selected as the detour route Rb. However, the just before relay device 11A is a transmitter-receiver terminal 9 installed on a fender 15 (15A, 15B, 15C) that has a short communication distance with relay device 11A and can form a direct route Rd.

[0050] 10 as an example, the detour route Rb from the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 installed on the fender 15E, which is the starting point, to the relay device 11A, which is the end point, will be considered as follows: First, the transmitting / receiving terminals 9 that can form a direct route Rd with the relay device 11A are the fenders 15A, 15B, and 15C, so the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 installed on any one of these fenders 15A to 15C will be the waypoint immediately before the relay device 11A.

[0051] The waypoints are the transmitting and receiving terminals 9 installed on each of the fenders 15D, 15C, 15B, and 15A. This means that there are three possible detour routes Rb: a route (first route) that passes through the transmitting and receiving terminals 9 installed on the fenders 15D and 15C in that order; a route (second route) that passes through the transmitting and receiving terminals 9 installed on the fenders 15D, 15C, and 15B in that order; and a route (third route) that passes through the transmitting and receiving terminals 9 installed on the fenders 15D, 15C, 15B, and 15A in that order. Comparing the total lengths AL of the first to third routes, the first route is the shortest and the third route is the longest. Therefore, the priority of the detour routes Rb is determined in the order of the first route, the second route, and the third route.

[0052] When transmitting the detected data M from the transmitting / receiving terminal 3, which is the starting point, to the relay device 11A, a detour route Rb with the shortest total length AL is selected first, and transmission is attempted sequentially, starting with the detour route Rb with the highest priority. If the detected data M can be successfully transmitted from the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 installed on the fender 15E to the relay device 11A via the detour route Rb with the highest priority (first route), the transmission of the detected data M is completed. If the detected data M cannot be transmitted to the relay device 11A via the detour route Rb with the first priority, the detour route Rb with the second highest priority (second route) is attempted. If the detected data M can be successfully transmitted to the relay device 11A via the detour route Rb with the second highest priority, the transmission of the detected data M is completed. In this way, transmission of the detected data M is attempted via the detour routes Rb with the highest priority until the detected data M can be successfully transmitted to the relay device 11A. In this way, by setting the detour route Rb with the shortest possible total length AL to be selected with priority, it is advantageous to reduce the amount of power consumed by each battery 10.

[0053] In the above-described embodiment, the direct route Rd or the detour route Rb is selected as the transmission route for each of the detection data M from each of the transmitting / receiving terminals 9 to the relay device 11A based on the communication strength S between them. This eliminates the need for repeated, unnecessary communication failures, and reduces the power consumption of the batteries 10 installed in each of the fenders 15. Since there is less need to mount the relay device 11A on the mobile body 14 and move it close to each of the transmitting / receiving terminals 9 (fenders 15) in order to ensure stable wireless communication with the relay device 11A, fuel consumption associated with the movement of the mobile body 14 is also reduced. As a result, it becomes possible to more reliably grasp the status of each of the fenders 15 while suppressing energy consumption in the process of grasping the status of each of the fenders 15.

[0054] Because a large number of fenders 15 are also mounted on ships moored to quays 17, the above-described system 1 can also be applied to grasp the status of these fenders 15. The above-described system 1 can also be applied to grasp the status of a large number of fenders 15 moored to offshore facilities. In this case, if relay device 11A is mounted on the ship that serves as the mobile body 14 and moved close to each fender 15, the amount of fuel consumed by the movement would be excessive because the mobile body 14 is a ship. Therefore, in this case, use of the above-described system 1 can minimize the fuel consumption of the mobile body 14, which is very advantageous in reducing energy consumption in the process of grasping the status of each fender 15.

[0055] This system 1 essentially comprises the sensor 2, the transmitting / receiving terminal 9, the battery 10, the storage container 3 that houses these and is installed inside the fender 15, and the relay device 11A, so it can be easily applied by simply equipping these essential components to an existing fender 15. Therefore, by applying this system 1, it becomes possible to accurately and stably grasp the condition of a large number of fenders 15 that have already been installed on a quay 17, a ship, etc. Of course, this system 1 can be applied if a new fender 15 is equipped with the above essential components. The installation of the sensor 2, the transmitting / receiving terminal 9, the battery 10, and the storage container 3 to a new fender 15 can be carried out more smoothly at the fender 15 manufacturing factory or stock location.

[0056] As in the above-described embodiment, if the storage container 3 can easily slide in the cylindrical axial direction relative to the through-hole 16e, this is advantageous for quickly inspecting and replacing the sensor 2, the transmitting / receiving terminal 9, and the battery 10. Furthermore, when the fender 15 is stored after being deflated and folded, it is advantageous to keep the container body 4 in a position where it is slid toward the outside of the fender 15, as shown in Fig. 7, in order to prevent damage to and protect the container body 4 and the stored sensor 2, transmitting / receiving terminal 9, and battery 10.

[0057] If the communication between each transmitting / receiving terminal 9 and relay device 11A is wireless based on the LoRa WAN communication standard, the mutual communication between them can be carried out extremely freely without strict legal restrictions. Therefore, for example, by issuing an instruction from a specific terminal device 12a of the administrator to each transmitting / receiving terminal 9 to change the timing of acquiring the detection data M by the sensor 2 or an instruction to change the frequency of transmitting the detection data M from the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 to relay device 11A, these settings can be easily changed.

[0058] When transmitting the detection data M from the transmitting / receiving terminal 9 to the relay device 11A, it is advisable to adopt a modulation method for the transmitted radio waves W that is suitable for the environment in which the fender 15 is used. Examples of modulation methods include CSS (chirp spread spectrum) and FHSS (frequency hopping spread spectrum). When CSS is adopted as the modulation method, it greatly reduces electromagnetic interference while making interception difficult, and is therefore considered to be suitable for wireless communication in an offshore environment.

[0059] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Remote management system 2 Sensor 3 Storage container 4 Container body 4a Stopper 5 Communication hole 6 Flange portion 7 Lid portion 8a First seal material 8b Second seal material 9 Transmitting / receiving terminal device 9a Module board 9b Omnidirectional antenna 10 Battery 11A Relay device 11B Server 12 (12a, 12b, 12c) Specific terminal device 13 Communication network 14 Mobile body 15 (15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, 15E) Pneumatic fender 16a Mouthpiece 16b Safety valve 16c Chain net 16d Connecting rope 16e Through hole 17 Quay W Radio wave

Claims

1. A remote management system for pneumatic fenders, comprising a sensor that detects detection data indicating the state of the pneumatic fender, a transmitting / receiving terminal connected to said sensor, a battery that operates said sensor and said transmitting / receiving terminal, and a storage container that houses said sensor, said transmitting / receiving terminal, and said battery and is installed inside said pneumatic fender, and in which management indicators based on said detection data are displayed on a specific terminal device, said system further comprising a relay device that is installed outside said pneumatic fender and wirelessly communicates with said transmitting / receiving terminal, said storage container being attached to a mouth fitting of said pneumatic fender in a horizontally placed state and extending in the axial direction of said pneumatic fender, The transmitting / receiving terminal has an omnidirectional antenna extending in the direction of the tube axis, and wireless communication based on a predetermined LPWA communication standard is performed between the transmitting / receiving terminal and the relay device, the detection data is transmitted from the transmitting / receiving terminal to the relay device via the omnidirectional antenna and then transmitted to a communication network via the relay device, and the management indicators are displayed on the specific terminal device connected to the communication network, in this remote management system for pneumatic fenders.

2. A remote management system for pneumatic fenders as described in claim 1, wherein the sensor, the transmitting / receiving terminal and the battery are housed in the container and installed inside each of the plurality of pneumatic fenders, and the transmission route for each of the detection data from each of the transmitting / receiving terminals to the relay device is set so that if the communication strength between each of the transmitting / receiving terminals and the relay device is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value, a direct route from each of the transmitting / receiving terminals to the relay device is selected, and if the communication strength is less than the reference value, a detour route is selected in which at least one other transmitting / receiving terminal is interposed between each of the transmitting / receiving terminals and the relay device.

3. A remote management system for pneumatic fenders as described in claim 2, in which the detour route is formed by connecting the transmitting / receiving terminal that is the starting point of the detour route to the relay device that is the end point of the detour route in straight lines, with the other transmitting / receiving terminals that make up the detour route as waypoints, and the waypoint immediately before the relay device is the transmitting / receiving terminal installed on the fender that can form the direct route, and the total length of each straight line is calculated and priority is given to the shortest calculated total length.

4. A method for remotely managing pneumatic fenders, in which a transmitting / receiving terminal is connected to a sensor that detects detection data indicating the state of the pneumatic fender, the sensor and the transmitting / receiving terminal are operated by a battery, the sensor, the transmitting / receiving terminal and the battery are housed in a container and installed inside the pneumatic fender, and management indicators based on the detection data are displayed on a specific terminal device, wherein a relay device that wirelessly communicates with the transmitting / receiving terminal is installed outside the pneumatic fender, the container is attached to a mouth fitting of the pneumatic fender in a horizontally placed position and extends in the axial direction of the pneumatic fender, and the transmitting / receiving terminal is designed to have an omnidirectional antenna that extends in the axial direction of the cylinder, A remote management method for pneumatic fenders, comprising: performing wireless communication based on a predetermined LPWA communication standard between the transmitting / receiving terminal and the relay device; transmitting the detection data from the transmitting / receiving terminal to the relay device via the omnidirectional antenna; transmitting the data to a communication network via the relay device; and displaying the management indicators on the specific terminal device connected to the communication network.

5. A method for remotely managing pneumatic fenders as described in claim 4, wherein the sensor, the transmitting / receiving terminal, and the battery are housed in the container and installed inside each of the plurality of pneumatic fenders, and the transmission route from each of the transmitting / receiving terminals to the relay device selects a direct route from each of the transmitting / receiving terminals to the relay device when the communication strength between each of the transmitting / receiving terminals and the relay device is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value, and selects a detour route in which at least one other transmitting / receiving terminal is interposed between each of the transmitting / receiving terminals and the relay device when the communication strength is less than the reference value.

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