Virtual Harbor Mapping With Remote Beacons for Pilotless Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large marine vessels face navigation challenges due to blind spots and require expert pilots, who may pose safety risks during boarding and need frequent updates for dynamic environments, leading to inefficiencies and delays.

Innovation Solution

A system with remote beacons equipped with sensors and transmitters provides surroundings information to a control center for generating a virtual representation of the environment, enabling navigation without a pilot on board.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pilot boards the vessel to provide navigation expertise, then navigation safety is improved, but safety risks increase due to potential falling overboard in bad weather

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation safetyVSAvoidsafety risks to pilot

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a pilot system comprising a platform, communication system, and display device as an intermediary between the captain and the external environment. The pilot remains on shore or a safe platform while providing navigation expertise through electronic communication, eliminating the need for the pilot to board the vessel in dangerous conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a virtual copy of the pilot's expertise and presence through electronic communication and display devices. The captain receives navigation instructions and environmental information as if the pilot were physically present, but without the safety risks of boarding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If a pilot travels to the vessel in bad weather, then navigation expertise is provided, but safety risks and potential harm increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation expertise availabilityVSAvoidsafety risks in bad weather

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The communication system acts as an intermediary that allows the pilot to provide expertise remotely through electronic means, eliminating the need to physically travel to the vessel in dangerous weather conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the vessel waits for a pilot to become available and travel to the vessel, then navigation expertise is ensured, but time is lost and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation expertiseVSAvoidwaiting time for pilot

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical pilot travel with an electronic communication system. Information and instructions are transmitted instantly through communication devices, eliminating the time required for the pilot to physically travel to the vessel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication system allows for continuous real-time interaction between the pilot and captain, enabling navigation expertise to be provided continuously without interruption or waiting periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Loss of information

If remote beacons with sensors are deployed to create a virtual representation, then situational awareness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesituational awarenessVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the environment monitoring function into multiple distributed beacons, each equipped with sensors. These segmented units independently collect local environmental data and transmit it to the central platform, making the complex task of environment mapping manageable through division.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The beacons are designed as multi-functional units that combine sensing, processing, and communication capabilities in a single device, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive environmental awareness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12372358B2Determining a virtual representation of at least part of an environment

Publication Date: 2025.07.29 A P MOLLER AS

AI summary

Disclosed is a system 1000 for determining a virtual representation of at least part of an environment 800 that is navigable by a ship 700. The system has at least one beacon 101, 102, 201, 202, 301, 302, 401-403 remote from the ship. The or each beacon comprises at least one sensor 411-415 for sensing surroundings information representative of at least part of the environment, a transmitter 420, and a controller 430 connected to the at least one sensor and configured to cause the surroundings information to be transmitted via the transmitter. The system also comprises a control centre 500 remote from the ship. The control centre comprises a receiver 520 configured to receive the surroundings information, and a control unit 530 connected to the receiver and configured to determine a virtual representation of at least part of the environment based on the surroundings information. The virtual representation may comprise a topographical map, such as a LIDAR map.