Automated Anchor Management for Surface Vessels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional anchoring methods require significant human intervention and are not automated, posing challenges for uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and crewed vessels alike, as they demand careful planning and coordinated crew action.
Innovation Solution
An automated anchor management system that uses a computerized apparatus to identify suitable anchor locations within a designated geographical bounding box by applying multiple filters to exclude unsuitable regions, allowing for the automatic dropping and management of anchors with minimal human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional anchoring methods are used, then anchoring can be performed with existing manual procedures, but significant human intervention and coordinated crew action are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the vessel to perform anchoring operations autonomously without human intervention. The computer automatically processes satellite imagery, applies filters to identify suitable anchorage locations, navigates to the selected position, and executes the anchoring sequence, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring crew operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated computer-controlled system. The computer processes visual data, makes navigation decisions, and controls the anchoring mechanism electronically, substituting human mechanical actions with automated computational and electronic control systems.
2Extent of automation
If automated anchor management is implemented, then crew involvement is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computer system performs multiple functions including processing satellite imagery, applying environmental and safety filters, selecting anchorage locations, navigating the vessel, and controlling the anchoring mechanism. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional system, the patent manages complexity through integration rather than proliferation of separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated anchoring process is divided into distinct sequential stages: imagery acquisition, filter application (environmental, safety, suitability), location selection, navigation to target, and anchoring execution. This segmentation of the complex task into manageable modules allows the system to handle complexity through structured process decomposition.
3Reliability
If multiple filters are applied to identify anchor locations, then anchoring safety and suitability are improved, but the time required for location selection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies multiple filters (environmental, safety, suitability) simultaneously to the satellite imagery during the location selection phase, rather than sequentially evaluating each criterion. This preliminary filtering of all criteria at once reduces the total time required while maintaining comprehensive assessment of anchorage suitability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses satellite imagery as a digital copy of the physical environment, allowing virtual analysis and filtering of potential anchorage locations without requiring physical inspection or trial anchoring. This digital copying enables rapid application of multiple filters to assess suitability without time loss from physical verification.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique of managing an anchor in a surface vessel includes receiving, by a computerized apparatus aboard the surface vessel, a geographical bounding box within which an anchor of the surface vessel is to be dropped, and applying, by the computerized apparatus, a plurality of filters to the geographical bounding box, the plurality of filters excluding regions within the geographical bounding box at which conditions are unsuitable for anchoring. After the surface vessel has navigated to a region within the geographical bounding box that is not excluded by the plurality of filters, the technique further includes electronically initiating a drop-anchor procedure to drop the anchor automatically within said region.