Ship IoT Surface Wave Communication Across Metal Bulkheads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication technologies, such as radio waves and ultrasonic waves, struggle to effectively communicate between compartments in a ship due to severe blocking by thick bulkheads and the challenges of installing wired facilities during ship construction, limiting real-time sharing of assembly progress and accident status.
Innovation Solution
A ship IoT wireless communication system utilizing metal surface waves, with access points installed in compartments and surface wave generators for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves through the ship's metal surfaces, including openings in bulkheads and ceilings, enabling seamless communication networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radio waves or ultrasonic waves are used for communication between compartments, then communication can be established, but the thick bulkheads severely block the waves and prevent effective communication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the metal bulkhead itself as an intermediary medium for communication. Instead of trying to penetrate or bypass the bulkhead, the invention couples electromagnetic waves to the metal surface, allowing the bulkhead to serve as the transmission medium. The surface wave generator creates waves that travel along the metal surface of the bulkhead, enabling communication through the obstruction rather than around or through it in the traditional sense.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or electromagnetic wave-based communication systems (radio waves, ultrasonic waves) with a surface wave system that exploits the conductive properties of metal surfaces. This substitution allows communication to occur by coupling energy to the metal surface itself, fundamentally changing how the communication signal interacts with the bulkhead structure.
2Reliability
If wired communication facilities are installed during ship construction, then communication between compartments is possible, but the installation complexity and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the communication function from the traditional wired infrastructure and relocates it to the existing metal structure of the ship. By using the bulkheads and metal surfaces as the communication medium, the invention eliminates the need to install separate wired communication facilities, thereby reducing installation complexity while maintaining communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal structure of the ship serves dual purposes: it provides both the structural framework and the communication transmission medium. The bulkheads, which already exist as part of the ship's construction, automatically become the communication channels when equipped with surface wave generators and receivers, eliminating the need for additional dedicated communication infrastructure.
3Reliability
If surface wave generators are installed in compartments, then communication through metal surfaces is enabled, but openings must be formed in bulkheads and ceilings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating small, localized openings (slits) rather than large openings. These narrow slits are sufficient to allow the surface waves to couple between compartments while minimizing the impact on the overall structural integrity of the bulkheads. The openings are precisely positioned and sized to optimize wave transmission while maintaining manufacturing ease.
4Reliability
If the metal surfaces of compartments are seamlessly connected, then surface wave transmission is improved, but the opening parts must be precisely formed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by adjusting the dimensions and positioning of the opening parts to optimize surface wave transmission. By carefully controlling the size, shape, and location of the slits, the system achieves effective wave coupling while accommodating reasonable manufacturing tolerances. The parameters of the openings are optimized to balance transmission efficiency with manufacturing feasibility.
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 efficient communication between compartments regardless of bulkhead thickness, facilitating real-time sharing of design changes and construction progress across the ship, reducing installation complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a surface wave generator for transmitting and receiving a surface wave through a floor, a ceiling, and a bulkhead of each of the plurality of compartments
Data Source
AI summary
A ship IoT wireless communication system using metal surface waves is proposed. The ship IoT wireless communication system may include a first access point installed in a first compartment among a plurality of compartments formed in a ship, and a second access point installed in a second compartment among the plurality of compartments. Each of the first access point and the second access point may perform surface wave communication with each other to form a communication network inside the ship. Each of the first and second access points may include a surface wave generator configured to transmit and receive a surface wave through at least one of a floor, a ceiling, or a bulkhead of each of the plurality of compartments.