3D Bottom Surface Rendering for Sonar Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for rendering three-dimensional scenes in navigation, such as sonar systems, are unintuitive and difficult for users to interact with, especially when dealing with multiple disconnected features and varying perspectives, leading to unreliable navigation and object detection.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional volume rendering system that includes portable imaging devices, sonar transducer assemblies, and logic devices configured to communicate with sensors and actuators, allowing users to view and interact with volume data for adjusting steering and propulsion systems, with features like orientation sensors, gyroscopes, and accelerometers for enhanced navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional sonar systems provide detailed volume data with multiple disconnected features, then measurement precision and object detection capabilities are improved, but ease of operation and user interaction become difficult and unintuitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms complex three-dimensional sonar volume data into intuitive two-dimensional bottom surface representations. By projecting 3D features onto a 2D plane and maintaining depth information through visual encoding, the system makes underwater terrain and objects easily interpretable without losing critical spatial relationships or detection precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates simplified graphical copies of complex sonar volume data by generating 2D bottom surface images that represent the essential features of the 3D environment. These visual representations serve as intuitive interfaces that preserve object detection capabilities while being much easier for users to interpret and interact with.
2Reliability
If conventional systems use traditional two-dimensional display formats, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of navigation and object detection decreases due to unintuitive presentation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances traditional 2D displays by incorporating depth information through visual encoding techniques. The system generates 2D bottom surface images that encode three-dimensional spatial relationships, allowing users to perceive depth, elevation, and terrain features intuitively, thereby improving navigation reliability without requiring complex 3D display hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary processing layer that transforms raw sonar volume data into intuitive 2D visual representations. This intermediary rendering process bridges the gap between complex sensor data and human perception, making navigation information reliable and easy to interpret while maintaining compatibility with standard display devices.
3Loss of information
If the system provides comprehensive volume data with multiple features, then information completeness is improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring specific targets increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality enhancement by allowing users to select and examine specific regions of interest within the 2D bottom surface image. When a user clicks on a feature, the system provides detailed information about that local area while maintaining the context of the overall scene, making it easy to detect and measure specific targets without being overwhelmed by comprehensive data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system resolves target selection difficulty by transforming 3D spatial navigation into a 2D interface problem. Users can easily locate and select features on the 2D bottom surface image, and the system automatically retrieves the corresponding 3D position and characteristics, maintaining complete information while simplifying the detection and measurement process.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide three dimensional volume rendering of volume data for use when operating mobile structures. A three dimensional volume rendering system includes a logic device configured to communicate with a user interface and receive volume data from a volume data source. The logic device is configured to render a three dimensional representation of the volume data, generate, within the 3D representation, a two dimensional grid having several vertices, adjust vertical coordinates of the several vertices based on the volume data, and render the adjusted 2D grid as a 3D surface.