Autonomous Mooring Control for Precise Vessel Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional marine vessel station-keeping and trajectory control systems face challenges in maintaining precise position and trajectory due to environmental forces, leading to inaccurate operations, high fuel consumption, and increased emissions, particularly in dynamic marine environments.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous vessel system integrating a winch system with mooring lines, sensors, and an AI module that processes positional and tension data to autonomously adjust mooring line lengths, counteracting environmental forces and maintaining target positions or trajectories through controlled maneuvering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If dynamic positioning systems (DPS) are used to maintain vessel position, then positional accuracy is improved, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic mooring line adjustments through winches rather than continuous thruster operation. The control system monitors vessel position and triggers winch actuation only when deviation thresholds are exceeded, converting continuous energy consumption into periodic mechanical adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical thrust-based DPS system with a mooring-line-based mechanical constraint system. Instead of using powered propellers to counteract environmental forces, the system uses passive mooring lines tensioned by winches to physically constrain the vessel position.
2Use of energy by moving object
If mooring lines are used to maintain vessel position, then fuel consumption is reduced, but positional accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors vessel position using GPS and other positioning sensors, compares the actual position with the target position, and automatically adjusts mooring line lengths through winches when deviation exceeds predefined thresholds, creating a closed-loop feedback control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts mooring line lengths in real-time based on environmental conditions and vessel position. The control system modifies the mechanical constraints adaptively, transitioning from static mooring to dynamic position-keeping through automated winch operation.
3Ease of operation
If conventional mooring systems are used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to environmental forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system operates autonomously by automatically monitoring vessel position, calculating required mooring line adjustments, and commanding winch actuation without human intervention. The system serves itself by integrating sensor data processing, control algorithm execution, and actuator command generation into a single automated loop.
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous vessel and method for maintaining precise position or trajectory during marine operations, such as cable or pipe laying or offshore construction and installation, are disclosed. The vessel includes multiple mooring lines anchored externally, a winch system with tension sensors, a position sensor, and a control system. The control system processes positional and tension data to detect deviations caused by environmental forces like wind, waves or currents. In response, it actuates the winch system to adjust mooring line lengths, counteracting forces and enabling controlled maneuvering within the mooring spread. An optional artificial intelligence module learns from historical data to predict dynamics and optimize adjustments along predefined waypoints. This reduces fuel use, enhances accuracy, and minimizes risks compared to conventional dynamic positioning systems. Applicable to vessels like barges or installation platforms.