Ship Radar Positioning via Transponder Response Waves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radar systems for ship positioning face challenges in accurately calculating location due to interference from electromagnetic waves, such as solar flares and disturbance waves, and require reflectors or buoys, which are not always available or effective, especially when using racon response waves for navigation.
Innovation Solution
A radar device installed in a movable body that transmits electromagnetic waves and receives response waves from a transponder device, calculating a representative distance and relative azimuth to determine the location based on continuous response waves over a predetermined azimuth range, allowing for efficient positioning without relying on GNSS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GNSS is used for ship positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to electromagnetic wave interference from solar flares and disturbance waves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces radar waves as an intermediary positioning system between the ship and GNSS satellites. The radar device transmits electromagnetic waves to transponder devices on the sea surface, which reflect the waves back to the ship. By measuring the time of flight and phase difference of these radar waves, the system calculates the ship's position independently of GNSS, thus avoiding electromagnetic interference from solar flares and disturbance waves while maintaining positioning accuracy and reliability.
2Reliability
If conventional radar systems with reflectors are used for positioning, then positioning capability is provided, but device complexity increases due to requirement for installable reflectors or buoys
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the radar positioning system universal by integrating the transponder device directly into the sea surface environment without requiring separate reflector installations. The transponder device can be deployed on floating buoys, submerged markers, or even natural sea surface features, allowing the same radar positioning system to function across different locations and conditions. This eliminates the complexity of installing and maintaining separate reflectors while preserving positioning capability.
3Ease of operation
If racon response waves are used for positioning, then navigation information is provided, but measurement precision deteriorates due to processing delay and difficulty in specifying reception time point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the transponder device immediately respond to incoming radar waves with reflected signals that contain precise timing information. The transponder device transmits the received radar wave signal back to the ship after a controlled processing delay, and the ship's radar system measures the total time of flight. By pre-establishing the transponder's response timing mechanism and using phase difference measurement, the system compensates for processing delays and achieves accurate distance measurement without requiring complex manual timing specifications.
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
Enables stable and accurate ship positioning even in areas with degraded GNSS accuracy, ensuring reliable autopilot navigation and location display on nautical charts.
Implementation Method 1
transmits electromagnetic waves at a predetermined frequency and receives response waves transmitted from a transponder device in response to the electromagnetic waves
Implementation Method 2
receives response waves transmitted from a transponder device in response to the electromagnetic waves
Data Source
AI summary
A radar device is provided. The radar device is installed in a movable body, transmits electromagnetic waves at a predetermined frequency, and receives response waves transmitted from a transponder device in response to the electromagnetic waves, respectively. The radar device includes a representative distance calculating module for calculating a representative distance from the radar device to the transponder device based on the response waves that are continuous over a predetermined azimuth angle range, a representative relative azimuth calculating module for calculating a representative relative azimuth of the transponder device from the radar device based on the continuous response waves, and a positioning module for calculating a location of the radar device based on positional information of the transponder device that is contained in each of the response waves, the calculated representative distance, and the calculated representative relative azimuth.