Watercraft Route Planning Under Interference for Low-Load Autopiloting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing watercraft docking assist systems require high computational load and expensive computers, making them unsuitable for small watercraft, and operators lacking experience face difficulties in using complex systems for piloting.
Innovation Solution
An automatic watercraft piloting system that computes multiple routes to avoid obstacles and interferences, using a control unit to select an optimum route with minimal computational load, allowing unskilled operators to navigate safely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If repeated simulations are performed to compute an optimum route considering external interferences, then routing accuracy is improved, but computational load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-computes deviation values for different course angles and interference conditions before actual navigation. These deviation values are stored in advance, allowing the control unit to quickly retrieve and apply them during route computation without performing complex real-time simulations, thus maintaining high routing accuracy while reducing computational load during operation
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing full repeated simulations for every route computation, the system computes a single primary route and then applies pre-computed deviation corrections based on interference conditions. This partial action approach achieves sufficient routing accuracy without the excessive computational burden of multiple complete simulations
2Measurement precision
If a high performance computer is installed to handle complex piloting computations, then piloting accuracy is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Complex computational tasks are performed in advance to generate lookup tables of deviation values for various course angles and interference conditions. During actual piloting, the control unit simply retrieves pre-computed values rather than performing complex calculations, enabling accurate piloting with a simple, low-cost control unit suitable for small watercraft
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pre-computed deviation data as a simplified copy or representation of the complex simulation results. Instead of running full simulations during operation, the control unit applies these copied deviation values to adjust the route, achieving high piloting accuracy with minimal computational resources and device complexity
3Reliability
If multiple simulation tries are performed to select an optimum route, then route reliability is improved, but operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically performs route computation and selection based on pre-computed deviation data and current interference conditions, without requiring operator intervention or understanding of complex simulation processes. The system serves itself by automatically retrieving appropriate deviation values and computing the optimal route, maintaining high reliability while keeping the interface simple for operators
Solution Approach 2:
Pre-computed deviation values act as an intermediary between complex simulation results and simple control operations. These deviation values bridge the gap between accurate multi-simulation route planning and easy-to-use control interfaces, allowing the system to maintain high route reliability while presenting a simple operational interface to users
Data Source
AI summary
In automatic watercraft piloting system, a control unit computes a plurality of first routes from a current position to a target position that avoid any obstacle that may exist between the current position and the target position, computes a second route for each of the first routes that the watercraft is predicted to travel when the propulsion device and the steering device are controlled by the control unit so as to follow the particular first route under an interference identified by an obstacle identification device, select one of the second routes that brings the watercraft to a spot nearest to the target position as an optimum route, and control the propulsion device and the steering device so as to cause the watercraft to progress along the first route that corresponds to the optimum route in absence of the interference.