Unmanned Surface Vehicle Hazard Detection for Ship Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large waterborne vessels face difficulties in maneuvering through narrow passageways and poorly maintained waterways, leading to collisions with hazards, environmental damage, and risks to marine life due to inadequate navigation data and limited detection capabilities of existing systems.
Innovation Solution
An unmanned aquatic surface vehicle equipped with a propulsion system, steering system, and hazard detection system that transmits data to a command vessel to update navigation and alert operators of potential hazards, allowing for evasive maneuvers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ships rely on navigation charts to avoid hazards, then collision avoidance is improved, but the accuracy and completeness of hazard detection deteriorates due to outdated or incomplete chart data
Solution Approach 1:
The unmanned aquatic vehicle performs preliminary hazard detection and mapping of bottom contours before the main ship arrives, allowing the ship to receive advance warning and plan evasive maneuvers without relying on potentially outdated navigation charts
Solution Approach 2:
An unmanned aquatic vehicle serves as an intermediary between the environment and the ship, performing the hazardous detection work in advance and transmitting information to the ship, thus separating the detection function from the ship itself
2Reliability
If ships slow down excessively to navigate cautiously in uncertain areas, then safety is improved, but maneuverability and response time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By detecting hazards in advance before the ship reaches them, the system allows the ship to maintain higher speeds while still having sufficient time to maneuver when hazards are detected, eliminating the need for excessive slowing
3Reliability
If ships use echo sounders to measure water depth below, then navigation safety is improved, but the detection range and warning time deteriorate due to limited effective range
Solution Approach 1:
The unmanned aquatic vehicle acts as a forward sensor platform, extending the detection range ahead of the ship and providing early warning of bottom contours and hazards at distances sufficient for evasive maneuvers
4Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If radar systems are used to detect above-ground hazards, then detection capability is improved, but the ability to detect around points and bluffs deteriorates due to line-of-sight limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The unmanned aquatic vehicle can be positioned strategically to detect hazards around points and bluffs that are obscured from the ship's radar, providing detection in areas that would otherwise be blind spots
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a spatial dimension to detection by deploying an independent sensor platform that can occupy different positions and angles relative to hazards, enabling detection around obstacles that block direct line-of-sight from the ship
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned aquatic surface vehicle for detecting and locating hazards is disclosed. The vehicle includes a propulsion system configured to impart a propulsive force to the vehicle and a steering system configured to impart a change in the direction of travel of the vehicle. A navigation system may be included to detect the location, direction, and motion of the vehicle. A hazard detection system is configured to detect and locate at least one of a subsurface, surface or above-water hazard. A communications device configured to transmit hazard data associated with a detected hazard to a remote receiver. A control station is able to control the vehicle, and receive and display information about hazards detected by the unmanned aquatic surface vehicle.