Autonomous Marine Navigation for Slamming and Roll Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous navigation techniques for sea-faring vessels do not adequately account for passenger comfort and safety, particularly in mitigating extreme motions such as slamming and rolling, which can lead to damage and injury.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an autonomous navigation system that measures slamming and roll parameters, adjusts speed or course to enter reduced-speed or tacking modes, thereby mitigating adverse effects by using sensors and actuation modules to manage vessel motion in real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the vessel maintains nominal speed for efficient transit, then productivity is improved, but passenger comfort and safety deteriorate due to extreme slamming motions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts vessel speed based on real-time wave conditions and slamming parameters. The autonomous pilot continuously monitors heave rate, pitch angle, and slamming force, modifying nominal speed to keep slamming parameters within acceptable ranges while maintaining efficient transit when conditions permit
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the speed parameter of the vessel in response to measured slamming parameters. When slamming force, heave rate, or pitch angle exceeds acceptable thresholds, the autonomous pilot reduces speed to mitigate slamming impact, then restores nominal speed when conditions improve
2Productivity
If the vessel maintains nominal course for direct routing, then productivity is improved, but passenger comfort deteriorates due to excessive rolling motions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts vessel course by introducing tacking legs when roll parameters exceed acceptable ranges. The autonomous pilot monitors roll angle and its rate of change, temporarily deviating from the nominal great circle course to reduce rolling, then returning to the direct route when conditions improve
Solution Approach 2:
The system addresses rolling by changing the temporal dimension of the course - introducing time-dependent tacking legs that deviate from the direct spatial route. The vessel follows a piecewise path with tacking segments instead of a straight great circle line, trading increased path length for reduced rolling motion
3Device complexity
If automated navigation systems are implemented without motion mitigation, then device complexity is reduced, but passenger safety and comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous pilot system is self-regulating, using onboard sensors to measure slamming and roll parameters, comparing them against acceptable ranges, and autonomously adjusting speed and course without human intervention. The system monitors its own performance and makes real-time corrections to maintain passenger safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements closed-loop feedback by continuously measuring slamming parameters (heave rate, pitch angle, slamming force) and roll parameters (roll angle, rate of change), comparing them to acceptable ranges, and using this feedback to autonomously adjust vessel operations. The feedback loop ensures passenger safety while maintaining automated navigation
Data Source
AI summary
Autonomously piloting a sea-faring vessel traveling on a pre-defined course at a nominal speed includes: measuring a slamming parameter of the vessel; determining that the slamming parameter is outside an acceptable range; and autonomously decreasing the speed of the vessel until the slamming parameter is within the acceptable range, thereby causing the vessel to enter a reduced-speed mode.