Onboard Sensor Routing for Location-Specific Watercraft Navigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Watercrafts often rely on remote data that is not location-specific and may lack connectivity, leading to inaccurate navigation and operation decisions due to limited or no cellular coverage in remote areas.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing onboard sensors and devices to create a weather profile and make operation changes based on precise watercraft data, forming mesh networks with nearby watercraft for data transfer via Bluetooth Low Energy or VHF Data Exchange System, and using artificial intelligence to optimize navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If remote third-party data is used for weather and navigation decisions, then system complexity is reduced, but data accuracy and location-specific precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments data collection by using multiple independent onboard sensors (wind sensor, wave sensor, current sensor, GPS) to gather specific local environmental parameters separately, then integrates them into a comprehensive weather profile. This segmentation allows precise local measurement while keeping each sensor component relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The onboard sensor system serves multiple functions: collecting weather data, determining watercraft position, measuring environmental conditions, and providing input for routing decisions. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating data collection capabilities into a single integrated sensor platform.
2Measurement precision
If onboard sensors are deployed for precise local data collection, then data accuracy improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The watercraft uses its own onboard sensors to collect and process weather and environmental data independently, rather than relying on external third-party systems. This self-service approach enables precise local measurements while reducing dependency on complex external infrastructure, particularly in remote areas without cellular coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-collects and stores weather data using onboard sensors before cellular coverage becomes available, and continues to accumulate data during periods of connectivity. This preliminary data collection ensures accurate local weather profiles are available even when external systems cannot be accessed.
3Loss of information
If cellular connections are relied upon for data transmission, then real-time external data access is improved, but reliability in remote areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The onboard sensor system acts as an intermediary that collects and stores local weather data independently of cellular connections. This intermediary capability ensures continuous reliable data availability even when cellular networks are unavailable in remote areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system accumulates and stores weather data in advance during periods when cellular coverage is available, creating a data buffer that cushions against connectivity interruptions. This pre-stored data ensures navigation decisions can be made reliably even when cellular connections are lost.
4Ease of operation
If generic remote weather data is used for navigation, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability to specific watercraft conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from using generic remote weather data to collecting location-specific local weather data using onboard sensors positioned at the actual watercraft location. This local quality approach ensures the weather profile accurately reflects conditions at the precise position of the watercraft, improving adaptability to specific local conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The weather profile is dynamically updated using continuous data from onboard sensors, allowing the system to adapt to changing local conditions in real-time. This dynamic approach enables the navigation system to respond to specific watercraft conditions and environmental changes, rather than relying on static generic data.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for making dynamic routing decisions for a watercraft is provided. The system includes sensor(s) located on the watercraft that are configured to provide sensor data. The system also includes a processor and a memory including computer program code. When executed, the computer program code is configured to cause the processor to receive the sensor data; create a weather profile based on the sensor data, with the weather profile being specific to a current position of the watercraft; and determine watercraft operation change(s) based on the weather profile. The watercraft operation change(s) includes, for example, a change in speed for the watercraft, a change in power level at a motor, a change in direction of the watercraft, a change in direction for the motor, rotation of a rudder, raising the motor, lowering the motor, rotation of a sail, raising other underwater components, or lowering the other underwater components.