Dual Mode Personal Locator Beacon for Maritime Rescue
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current satellite-based Search and Rescue (SAR) systems are inefficient for locating individuals who fall overboard from vessels, as existing wearable beacons either lack satellite compatibility or cannot accurately update their location in real-time, leading to difficulties in rescue operations, especially in open seas or poor visibility conditions.
Innovation Solution
A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) system that transmits signals at a low power and high repetition rate initially to be detected by a local monitoring station, then switches to a high power and low repetition rate to be detected by a remote monitoring station via satellite, with automatic activation by environmental sensors, and wireless remote control deactivation to avoid false alarms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wearable beacon transmits at high power to enable satellite detection, then the detection range is improved, but the battery consumption increases and false alarms increase
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon dynamically adjusts its transmission power based on the detected state. When in water (distress condition), it transmits at high power for satellite detection. When on board (normal condition), it transmits at low power to conserve battery and avoid false alarms. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between reliable satellite detection and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the transmission power parameter according to the operational state. The beacon uses environmental sensors (water detection, acceleration sensors) to determine state and adjusts the transmission power parameter accordingly - high power when distressed, low power when normal, thus resolving the energy vs. detection reliability contradiction.
2Measurement precision
If a wearable beacon transmits at high repetition rate to improve location accuracy, then the location precision is improved, but the battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon dynamically adjusts its transmission repetition rate based on the detected state. In distress mode (in water), it transmits at high repetition rate to enable accurate location by satellites. In normal mode (on board), it transmits at low repetition rate to conserve battery. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between location precision and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the transmission repetition rate parameter according to operational conditions. When sensors detect distress (water immersion, sudden acceleration), the repetition rate increases for precise location. When normal, the rate decreases to save energy, resolving the measurement precision vs. energy use contradiction.
3Loss of time
If a wearable beacon uses automatic activation to detect distress, then the response time is improved, but false alarms increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple sensor inputs (water detection sensor, acceleration sensors, GPS) to determine distress state. By combining multiple independent detection methods, the system achieves fast automatic activation while reducing false alarms through cross-validation of sensor data before triggering the distress signal.
Solution Approach 2:
The beacon uses feedback from multiple environmental sensors to continuously monitor the operational state. The system processes sensor feedback to distinguish true distress conditions from normal activities, enabling automatic activation with reduced false alarm rate by validating multiple sensor conditions before triggering.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If a wearable beacon transmits at low power to conserve energy, then the battery life is extended, but the detection range decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon dynamically adjusts transmission power based on operational state. During normal operation (on board), it uses low power to extend battery life. Upon detecting distress (in water), it switches to high power to ensure satellite detection. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between battery life and detection capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), supporting two operation modes local monitoring and remote monitoring. The apparatus includes a PLB that supports the present operation mode, as well as a local monitoring mode, employing the same transmitter, and automatically switching between modes. Upon activation, the PLB first tries to communicate with a local monitoring station, at a low transmission power, and at a high repetition rate, in purpose of dealing with the PLB call locally, without involving the remote monitoring station. Then, if not acknowledged by a local monitoring station, the PLB increases its transmission power, enabling access to a remote monitoring station. In a preferred embodiment, the PLB is carried by a person onboard a vessel, to alarm upon a Man Overboard (MOB) accident, the local monitoring station is installed onboard the same vessel, and the remote monitoring station is part of a satellite Search and Rescue (SAR) system, as Cospas-Sarsat.