Hull Tilt Sensor Network for Accurate Deformation Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for measuring local deformation in a hull during navigation are inaccurate due to dominant gravity fluctuations, and they are not suitable for acquiring overall shape information of a ship's hull or its constituent members.
Innovation Solution
A hull structure monitoring system comprising a network of sensor devices and an analysis device that measures tilt information at multiple points on the hull, using 3D MEMS tilt angle sensors to acquire shape information through computation processing, including Zernike polynomials for function fitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If acceleration measurement is integrated twice over time to measure local deformation, then deformation measurement is attempted, but measurement precision deteriorates due to dominant gravity fluctuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical acceleration measurement system with an optical measurement system using infrared rays. The optical system directly measures deformation through changes in infrared radiation patterns, eliminating the mechanical integration process that is susceptible to gravity fluctuation interference. This substitution of measurement methodology resolves the contradiction by using a fundamentally different physical principle that is not affected by gravitational variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces infrared rays as an intermediary medium to measure deformation. Instead of directly measuring acceleration and integrating (which is affected by gravity), the infrared rays serve as a mediator that captures deformation information through optical means. The infrared measurement system acts as an intermediary that bypasses the harmful gravitational interference in the measurement chain, providing accurate deformation data without the gravity fluctuation problem.
2Measurement precision
If infrared ray measurement is used to detect local deformation, then deformation detection accuracy improves, but versatility deteriorates as overall shape information cannot be acquired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the hull structure into multiple measurement regions, each equipped with its own infrared measurement system. By segmenting the measurement task across multiple independent measurement points distributed throughout the hull, the system can simultaneously achieve high-precision local deformation detection at each point while collectively acquiring comprehensive overall shape information. The segmentation allows both detailed local measurement and global shape assessment to coexist.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the infrared measurement system to serve multiple functions: it can measure local deformation at specific points while also capturing overall shape information when measurements are aggregated across multiple points. The system is configured to universally measure both local and global geometric characteristics, making it versatile enough to address both detailed deformation detection and comprehensive shape monitoring without requiring separate systems.
3Loss of information
If multiple sensor devices are deployed to measure tilt information at different locations, then overall shape information acquisition improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the data from multiple distributed sensor devices through a centralized processing system. By combining the tilt information measurements from all sensor points and integrating them to reconstruct the overall hull shape, the system achieves complete shape information without requiring each individual sensor to be overly complex. The merging approach allows simple sensors to work together to produce comprehensive results.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple copies of the same basic sensor type distributed throughout the hull, rather than using one complex sensor system. Each location has a standardized sensor unit that measures tilt information locally, and the collective data from these identical copies reconstructs the overall shape. This copying strategy reduces individual device complexity while maintaining information completeness through redundancy and distribution.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Accurately monitors the shape and deformation of the hull by providing precise shape information and deformation distribution, enabling a digital twin for objective hull integrity evaluation.
Implementation Method 1
using 3D MEMS tilt angle sensors to acquire shape information through computation processing
Data Source
AI summary
A hull structure monitoring system includes a plurality of sensor devices and a server connected to each other via an inboard network of a ship. Each of the plurality of sensor devices targets some members constituting a hull as an object, measures tilt information at each of a plurality of measurement points in different locations in one of two directions intersecting each other in the object, and outputs sensor data including the tilt information to the server. The server receives sensor data from the plurality of sensor devices and acquires shape information of the object as analysis results by performing analysis processing including predetermined computation processing using the sensor data.