Vessel Navigation Decision Support System for Multi-Vessel Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigational systems fail to provide ready solutions for collision situations involving multiple vessels, as they do not account for all nearby vessels, Collision Regulations, and do not explain the assessment of navigational situations or proposed maneuvers, lacking data fusion and integration of dynamic and static information.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that fuse and integrate signals from various navigational devices using a data collection module, analysis module, and knowledge base to assess navigational situations and generate allowable and recommended maneuvers, taking into account Collision Regulations, dynamic ship movements, and environmental factors, with explanations provided to the navigator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing navigational systems (ARPA, GNSS, AIS, ECDIS) are used to track vessels and calculate movement parameters, then collision avoidance capability is improved, but the system cannot provide ready solutions for multiple vessel situations and does not account for all nearby vessels and Collision Regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple navigational systems (ARPA, GNSS, AIS, ECDIS) into a single integrated decision support system that processes data from all sources simultaneously. The system combines dynamic vessel tracking with static environmental data and Collision Regulations rules to generate comprehensive collision avoidance solutions for multiple vessel situations, resolving the contradiction between basic collision avoidance capability and adaptability to complex multi-vessel scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The navigational decision support system is designed to perform multiple functions: tracking individual vessels, monitoring multiple nearby vessels, applying Collision Regulations, generating collision avoidance maneuvers, and providing navigational advice. This multi-functional approach enables the system to handle both simple two-vessel collisions and complex multi-vessel situations, improving adaptability while maintaining reliable collision avoidance capability.
2Reliability
If navigational systems provide collision avoidance advice, then safety is improved, but the system does not explain the assessment of navigational situations or proposed maneuvers
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by providing explanations of its assessment process to the navigator. It communicates the reasoning behind collision avoidance advice, the evaluation of navigational situations, and the basis for proposed maneuvers. This feedback mechanism maintains safety while eliminating information loss about the decision-making process, allowing navigators to understand and trust the system's recommendations.
3Measurement precision
If the system tracks all nearby vessels and applies Collision Regulations, then collision avoidance accuracy is improved, but the complexity of processing and generating maneuvers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex navigation support task into distinct functional modules: data collection from multiple sources, data fusion, situation assessment, maneuver generation, and advice provision. Each module handles a specific aspect of the problem, reducing overall complexity while maintaining high accuracy in tracking all nearby vessels and applying Collision Regulations through systematic processing stages.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and system of navigational decision support in the process of safe vessel navigation is provided in this invention. The method has a number of characteristic features: we receive signals identifying our ship (own ship) and targets from navigational systems and equipment, then, after the integration of these signals, we analyze and assess a present navigational situation by means of a computer and display the situation. If own ship faces a risk of collision, we generate allowable and recommended manoeuvres of own ship or targets and we graphically display them to a navigator; in the proposed manoeuvres we take into account at least one safety criterion as well as criteria representing good marine practices or economical criteria. Subsequently, upon navigator's approval of the proposed manoeuvre/s, we perform either one of the allowable or recommended manoeuvres or a series of such manoeuvres. After navigational data collection, we submit them to the processes of fusion and integration, using a computer and specialized software. The system of navigational decision support system in the process of safe vessel navigation, incorporating the modules of data collection, event identification, knowledge base, analysis and assessment of a navigational situation, manoeuvre generation, movement prediction, graphical user interface (GUI), management and execution, is characterized by the following: the data collection module contains a fusion block, and the knowledge base module contains a block of algorithmized Collision Regulations and a block of criteria based on good marine practices. The execution module controlling the work of own ship's machines is connected with the autopilot, steering gear, main engine, telegraph and controllable pitch propeller.