Relative Guidance of Watercraft Using Pose Calculation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing maritime navigation systems, such as ECDISs, primarily focus on individual ship navigation and do not effectively aid in the maneuvering of proximal watercraft, lacking the ability to convey relative positional information between multiple vessels.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize interface circuitry, sensors, and programmable circuitry to calculate the pose between a first watercraft and a second watercraft, determine if the first watercraft is within a threshold offset relative to the second watercraft, and provide indications for adjusting the operation of the first watercraft to maintain the desired offset.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If standardized maritime navigation interfaces (ECDIS) are used for individual ship navigation, then navigation information display is provided, but relative positional information between multiple vessels cannot be conveyed
Solution Approach 1:
The system adapts the existing ECDIS interface to serve multiple functions: individual ship navigation display and relative positioning between watercraft. By overlaying relative position information on the existing chart display, the system makes the ECDIS universal for both single-vessel navigation and multi-vessel maneuvering guidance, eliminating the need for separate navigation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer of visual information (relative position indicators, offset lines, and graphical overlays) between the existing ECDIS navigation data and the operator's decision-making process. This intermediary visual layer translates raw sensor data about relative positioning into intuitive graphical representations that guide maneuvering operations.
2Reliability
If ECDIS provides real-time vessel position and movement information, then navigation safety is improved, but guidance for proximal watercraft maneuvering is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the relative position between watercraft using sensors and provides real-time visual feedback through the ECDIS display. The display shows the current relative position, desired offset, and guidance indicators that automatically update as the watercraft maneuver, giving the operator immediate feedback on whether the desired separation distance is being maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the navigation display into multiple functional layers: the base ECDIS chart display for navigation context, overlaying relative position information from sensors, adding graphical indicators for desired offset, and incorporating guidance cues. This segmentation allows each layer to serve its specific purpose without interfering with others.
3Adaptability or versatility
If relative position sensing is added to existing navigation systems, then proximal watercraft guidance is enabled, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages existing ECDIS hardware and software infrastructure to display relative position information, avoiding duplication of display and processing capabilities. By making the ECDIS multi-functional for both traditional navigation and relative positioning, the system minimizes additional hardware requirements and reduces overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses visual copying and overlay techniques to represent relative position information on the existing ECDIS display. Instead of creating a completely separate display system, the relative position data is graphically reproduced as overlays, indicators, and graphical elements on the existing chart view, reusing the same display hardware and user interface paradigm.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture, and methods are disclosed to relatively maneuver watercraft. A disclosed apparatus includes interface circuitry communicatively coupled to a sensor carried by a first watercraft, machine-readable instructions, and programmable circuitry to at least one of instantiate or execute the machine-readable instructions to: calculate a pose between the first watercraft and a second watercraft based on output from the sensor, determine whether the first watercraft is within a threshold offset relative to the second watercraft based on the pose, and provide an indication as to whether or not to adjust operation of the first watercraft based on whether or not the first watercraft is within the threshold offset relative to the second watercraft.