Autonomous Lifebuoy Navigation Using Sonar and Image Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal flotation devices and life preservers, such as motorized and automatic lifebuoys, face challenges in effectively guiding themselves towards a person overboard during a man overboard situation, often requiring human intervention, being impractical, and unreliable due to issues like water waves obstructing infrared sensors and the need for remote control operation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous lifebuoy equipped with a control unit that includes communication modules, a camera, a graphics processing unit for image comparison, a Voice Activity Detector, and a sonar module, allowing it to automatically navigate towards a person overboard without human control, using pre-recorded images, sound analysis, and sonar to determine the victim's location and propel itself accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If an infrared positioning device is used to detect the location of a person overboard, then the lifebuoy can automatically navigate towards the victim, but water waves obstruct the infrared sensor and prevent proper detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces acoustic waves as an intermediary detection method instead of directly using infrared sensors. The acoustic positioning device detects the victim's position through sound waves that are not blocked by water waves, serving as a mediator that overcomes the limitation of infrared detection in wave conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the optical detection system (infrared sensor) with an acoustic detection system. This substitution changes the physical principle from electromagnetic radiation detection to acoustic wave detection, which is not affected by water surface waves and provides reliable detection in maritime conditions.
2Ease of operation
If a remote control system is used to control the motorized lifebuoy, then the lifebuoy can be directed towards the person overboard, but the remote control requires batteries, regular maintenance, and special training to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the lifebuoy to autonomously navigate using acoustic positioning and automatic control systems. The device detects the victim's position acoustically and automatically steers itself without requiring external remote control operation, eliminating the need for user training and maintenance of remote controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the control function from the operator and integrates it into the lifebuoy's automated system. By removing the remote control component entirely and implementing onboard acoustic positioning and automatic navigation, the system eliminates the complexity of external control devices while maintaining effective victim location and approach capabilities.
3Reliability
If one or more members of a marine crew or rescue team descend into the water to guide the lifebuoy to the person overboard, then the lifebuoy can be positioned correctly, but the rescue personnel are exposed to substantial risk and danger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the lifebuoy to autonomously locate and navigate to the victim using acoustic positioning and automatic control systems. This eliminates the need for rescue personnel to enter the water, as the device independently performs detection and navigation functions that were previously requiring human intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical intervention of rescue personnel with an automated acoustic detection and control system. The acoustic positioning device and automatic control mechanisms substitute for human swimmers, providing the same rescue functionality without exposing personnel to water-related dangers.
4Shape
If the infrared sensor is mounted less than 10 cm above the water surface, then the lifebuoy structure remains compact, but the sensor cannot have direct vision of the person's head due to water waves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical detection system with an acoustic detection system. The acoustic positioning device uses sound wave propagation that is not blocked by water surface waves, eliminating the need for elevated sensor mounting while maintaining detection capability in wave conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic waves as an intermediary detection medium that can penetrate through water surface waves. Unlike infrared radiation that requires direct line of sight, acoustic waves can detect the victim's position through the water medium without being obstructed by surface wave interference.
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
The autonomous lifebuoy efficiently and reliably guides itself to a person overboard, reducing the risk to rescue teams, eliminating the need for manual guidance, and providing a user-friendly, low-maintenance solution for water rescues, even in situations where the victim is conscious and above water.
Implementation Method 1
a sonar module, which emits sound waves to detect a position of a person overboard
Implementation Method 2
a Voice Activity Detector, which detects a sound of a person in distress
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous lifebuoy includes a body, an electric power supply, a propelling module and a control unit configured to control the autonomous lifebuoy so as to automatically guide the autonomous lifebuoy towards a person overboard in water, during a man overboard (MOB) situation. The control unit includes at least one communication module, a non-volatile memory, a graphics processing unit (GPU) configured to perform an image comparison and a microcomputer configured to make calculations, based on at least the image comparison performed by the graphics processing unit (GPU), and issue commands to at least the propelling module to propel the autonomous lifebuoy towards the person overboard in the water during the man overboard (MOB) situation.