Remote Ship Piloting With Connection-Quality-Based Data Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods require a pilot to board a container ship to navigate it into port, exposing the pilot to dangerous conditions and limiting efficiency due to the need for physical presence, especially in challenging weather and when pilots are scarce.
Innovation Solution
A remote control system that allows a pilot to control a container ship from a remote location using a ship control unit and a transmitter-receiver, with a remote control centre that receives situation information and determines pilot-control information based on connection quality, enabling prioritization of data transmission and ensuring safe navigation without the pilot needing to board the ship.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pilot boards the container ship to navigate it into port, then the pilot can provide expert knowledge and local conditions awareness, but the pilot is exposed to dangerous conditions and the system efficiency is limited by the need for physical presence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the ship's bridge environment in a remote control center, allowing the pilot to observe and control the ship remotely through transmitted video feeds and control interfaces, eliminating the need for physical presence on the ship while maintaining full situational awareness and control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical pilot boarding with an electronic communication system using transmitters and receivers to transmit video feeds and control signals between the ship and remote control center, enabling remote operation without physical contact
2Ease of operation
If a pilot boards the container ship, then navigation control can be provided, but the pilot must wait for availability and cannot operate continuously
Solution Approach 1:
The remote control center creates a virtual representation of the ship's environment through video transmission, allowing the pilot to maintain continuous monitoring and control from a fixed location without the need to physically board and disembark the vessel
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous pilot operation by maintaining an uninterrupted video feed and control link between the ship and remote control center, allowing the pilot to work continuously without the interruptions inherent in physical boarding and waiting procedures
3Loss of information
If all situation information is transmitted continuously, then the pilot receives complete information for decision-making, but the communication bandwidth is consumed excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality levels to different parts of the transmitted information, providing high-definition video feeds for critical areas where the pilot needs detailed visual information while using lower bandwidth transmission for less critical data, optimizing the balance between information quality and bandwidth consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system transmits only the necessary portion of situation information required for safe navigation and control decisions, rather than transmitting all possible data, allowing the pilot to receive sufficient information for effective operation while conserving communication bandwidth
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling a ship 1 comprises a ship 1 having: a ship control unit 204 configured to determine situation information of the ship 1; and a transmitter-receiver 12 connected to the ship control unit 204 and configured to transmit the situation information. A remote control centre 18 remote from the ship 1 comprises a transmitter-receiver 16 configured to receive situation information of the ship 1; and a remote control unit 202 configured to determine pilot-control information for maneuvering the ship 1 based on the situation information and configured to transmit the pilot-control information to the ship 1 via the transmitter-receiver 16 of the remote control centre 18. The ship control unit 204 or the remote control unit 202 is configured to determine a quality of a connection between the transmitter-receiver 12 of the ship 1 and the transmitter-receiver 16 of the remote control centre 18.