Underwater Hull Camera Modules for Proximity and Threat Warning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security monitoring assemblies for boats do not effectively identify and warn boaters about potential underwater opportunities and dangers, such as game fish, sharks, jellyfish, and obstacles, which can impact safety and compliance with regulations.
Innovation Solution
A video monitoring assembly comprising video capturing modules and a computer system mounted on a boat, capable of capturing and evaluating underwater video, providing position, proximity, and threat warnings, with integrated databases for object identification and regulatory compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If video capturing modules are mounted on the boat hull to monitor underwater objects, then boater safety and regulatory compliance are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is divided into multiple independent video capturing modules, each with its own transparent housing and camera. These modular units can be individually mounted on different parts of the boat hull, allowing the system to detect objects in multiple directions simultaneously. This segmentation improves safety coverage without requiring a single complex centralized system.
Solution Approach 2:
The computer system serves multiple functions: it receives and processes video data from all camera modules, identifies various types of objects (sharks, jellyfish, obstacles, game fish), generates different types of warnings (proximity warnings, threat warnings, regulatory compliance alerts), and provides entertainment information. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be multiple separate systems into a single integrated unit, managing complexity while improving reliability.
2Measurement precision
If multiple video capturing modules are used to cover all directions around the boat, then object detection capability is improved, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of installing one complex 360-degree camera system, the patent uses multiple simple video capturing modules that can be independently mounted on the boat hull at different locations and orientations. Each module captures video in its specific direction, and the computer integrates these views to provide comprehensive object detection around the entire boat.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses multiple identical or similar video capturing modules rather than a single unique complex camera system. Each module is a replicated unit with the same transparent housing, camera, and transmitter components, making them easier to manufacture, install, and maintain. The computer processes copies of video data from each module to build a complete picture of the underwater environment.
3Loss of information
If the computer system provides detailed object identification and warning signals, then boater safety and regulatory compliance are improved, but the information processing requirements and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The computer system processes video data to a level sufficient for safety and compliance purposes without attempting to analyze every detail of the underwater environment. It identifies objects and provides warnings when they enter relevant zones around the boat, rather than continuously analyzing all video data in full detail. This partial action approach maintains safety while reducing unnecessary energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The computer acts as an intermediary between the raw video data from cameras and the boater. It processes video feeds, identifies objects, determines their proximity and threat level, and translates this information into meaningful warning signals and compliance information. This intermediary processing filters and prioritizes information to reduce the energy required for full detailed analysis while maintaining safety effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
An underwater video monitoring assembly for monitoring objects in proximity to a boat includes a set of video capturing modules and a computer, which are mountable to a hull of a boat and to the boat, respectively. The computer comprises an onboard transceiver. An onboard display is operationally engaged to the computer and is mountable to the boat. Each video capturing module comprises a transparent housing. A camera and a transmitter are attached to and positioned in the transparent housing, with the transmitter being communicatively engaged to the camera. The camera captures video in a space around the hull and the transmitter transmits the video to the computer, which evaluates an object in the video and selectively signals the onboard display to present one or more of a position of the object, a proximity warning, and a threat warning.