Boat Mooring Direction Detection for Automatic Berth Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional boat mooring requires manual user input to set the mooring direction, which can be cumbersome, especially when dealing with complex pier shapes like I-shape or U-shape, and does not account for automatic alignment with adjacent boats.
Innovation Solution
A system equipped with a control unit that processes image information to identify the mooring direction of adjacent boats and determines an automatic mooring route for the boat, using sensors, GPS, and IMU to guide the boat into a berth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual user input is used to set mooring direction, then the system can accommodate complex pier shapes and various mooring configurations, but the operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines mooring direction by detecting adjacent boats and piers through sensors, eliminating the need for manual user input. The control unit autonomously calculates the optimal mooring direction based on detected environmental features, making the system self-sufficient in determining mooring parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of adjacent boats and piers before the mooring process begins. By预先 identifying the mooring environment and calculating the optimal direction in advance, the system prepares all necessary information before execution, streamlining the actual mooring operation.
2Ease of operation
If automatic determination of mooring direction is implemented, then user input is reduced and operation is simplified, but the system complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it processes sensor data, detects adjacent boats and piers, calculates mooring direction, and controls the mooring execution. By making the control unit multi-functional, the system reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing complexity while achieving automatic determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensor data as an intermediary to bridge the gap between the physical environment (adjacent boats and piers) and the control decisions. The sensors convert physical features into detectable signals that the control unit can process, enabling automatic determination without direct human intervention.
3Manufacturing precision
If the system detects adjacent boats and piers automatically, then alignment with existing vessels is ensured, but the measurement and detection process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual visual inspection and mechanical alignment methods with automated sensor-based detection. Sensors electronically detect the positions and orientations of adjacent boats and piers, eliminating the need for manual measurement and visual estimation, thereby improving precision while managing detection complexity through automation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for automatically determining a mooring direction or a berth approach direction of a boat. The system including a control unit including a processor. The control unit is configured to obtain image information, the image information including information of an other boat that is moored; identify a mooring direction of the other boat based on the image information; determine the mooring direction or the berth approach direction of the boat based on the mooring direction of the other boat, wherein the control unit determines an automatic mooring route of the boat based on the mooring direction or the berth approach direction of the boat, and the control unit outputs a control signal for controlling an automatic mooring of the boat.