Boat Vision Detection for Rider-Down Water Sports Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Boat operators engaging in water sports struggle to promptly detect when a participant has fallen, as they are typically focused on navigating and cannot easily monitor the area behind the boat.
Innovation Solution
Equipping boats with an image processor and controller that analyze images captured by sensors positioned aft of the stern to identify if a water-sports participant has fallen, triggering alerts or actions to notify the operator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the boat operator focuses on navigating the boat, then the boat can be controlled effectively, but the operator cannot promptly detect when a participant has fallen
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically detecting fallen participants through image sensors and object recognition processes without requiring the operator to manually monitor the area behind the boat. The boat essentially monitors itself for safety conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual monitoring system (operator looking behind the boat) with an automated optical detection system using image sensors and computer vision algorithms to detect fallen participants
2Loss of time
If the operator manually monitors the area behind the boat, then fallen participants can be detected, but the operator cannot focus on navigating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary automated detection system that acts as a mediator between the participant and the operator. The image sensors and object recognition processes serve as intermediaries to convey safety information to the operator without requiring direct operator attention
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback by capturing images, analyzing them through object recognition, and providing real-time detection results to the operator, enabling rapid response to fallen participants
3Productivity
If automated image analysis is implemented, then detection speed improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by using a single automated detection system that can identify various objects (participants, equipment, environmental hazards) and trigger different appropriate responses based on the detection results
Data Source
AI summary
A boat, boat systems, and methods to determine when a water-sports participant has fallen. The boat may include an image sensor and an image processor communicatively coupled to the image sensor. The image sensor is configured to capture at least one image of the environment aft of the stern of the boat. The image processor is configured to execute a rider-down analysis that includes analyzing, using an object recognition process executed by the image processor, an image to be analyzed to determine if a water-sports participant has fallen. The boat may include a controller configured to execute a rider-down action when the water-sports participant has fallen. The controller may execute the rider-down action when the image processor determines that the water-sports participant has fallen based upon the rider-down analysis.