Ship Handling Device Automatic Positioning Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ship handling systems require operators to recognize the behavior and characteristics of ships in response to disturbances like water flow and wind to accurately position and orient the vessel, which is complex and error-prone.
Innovation Solution
A ship handling device that uses GPS and orientation sensors to set and maintain target coordinates and orientation, allowing the ship to move and turn automatically without requiring operators to understand the ship's behavior or characteristics, using a control system that adjusts thrust and direction based on calculated differences between current and target positions and orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional ship handling control is used with joystick lever, then propulsion devices can be interlocked for ship handling, but the operator needs to recognize the behavior and characteristics of the ship with respect to disturbances like water flow and wind
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (automatic positioning control device) that mediates between the operator's simple joystick input and the complex ship dynamics. This device calculates target coordinates and orientation based on joystick position, then automatically generates control commands for propulsion devices, eliminating the need for operators to understand complex ship behavior characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service control by automatically compensating for disturbances and inertial forces. The control device continuously monitors ship position and orientation via GPS and orientation sensors, then autonomously adjusts propulsion device commands to maintain accurate positioning, allowing the ship to handle its own complex dynamics without operator intervention
2Ease of operation
If automatic positioning control is implemented without disturbance recognition, then operation is simplified, but positioning accuracy may be affected by water flow and wind influences
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring actual ship position and orientation through GPS and orientation sensors, comparing these with target values, and automatically adjusting propulsion device commands to eliminate deviations. This closed-loop control maintains high positioning accuracy despite simplifying operator tasks
Solution Approach 2:
The control device performs preliminary calculations to determine target coordinates and orientation based on joystick position before execution. It proactively compensates for expected disturbances and inertial forces by pre-calculating appropriate propulsion commands, ensuring accurate positioning before deviations occur
Data Source
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AI summary
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a ship handling device 7 with which a ship 100 can be caused to move and turn in a target orientation At toward target coordinates Pt without monitoring the behavior of the ship 100 against disturbance or the characteristics of the ship 100. The ship handling device 7 causes the ship 100 to move toward the target coordinates Pt and turn in the target orientation At on the basis of a signal from a GPS device 13 and a signal from an orientation sensor 14, wherein the target coordinates Pt and the target orientation At are calculated on the basis of the amount of operation of a joystick lever 10 which is an operating tool, and a thrust is generated by a propulsion device 7 so as to move the ship 100 to the target coordinates Pt and turn in the target orientation At after a signal finalizing the target coordinates Pt and the target orientation At has been acquired.