Abstract: An auto-docking system has been provided that can automatically dock a ship. The auto-docking system provides a close in radar system and a secondary propulsion system that is under control of a docking processor.

Abstract: A navigational system for surface vessels that provides warning of impending grounding occurrences. A data base of bottom contours and submerged obstructions is compared to various indicators of the surface vessel's position and motion to provide alerts and to display bottom hazards ahead of the vessel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for remotely and constantly calibrating a transponder by using the ring around phenomenon. A number of different time varying physical quantities, such as for example temperature, signal level, noise, transmission line flex, frequency, and general operational effects, affect the inherent delay in transponders on a time varying basis. The invention relies on a the ring around phenomenon to produce pulse doublets, wherein the distance between the pulses in the pulse doublets correspond to the instantaneous delay in the transponder. The system is configured so that instantaneous variation in the transmission delay is detected and recognized on a pulse by pulse basis and transmitted to the interrogation device, which then functions to calculate the actual delay. Normal operation of the transponder is not affected by the continuous calibration method, and therefore a special calibration mode is not required.

Abstract: A method of sending data from a base station to a passive RF tag and writing the data to a tag non-volatile memory which detects a “partial write”, where the tag voltage falls during the write process under the voltage sufficient to reliably write the tag non-volatile memory, is presented. The tag voltage is compared to a stable reference voltage during the time the tag memory is being written, and if the tag voltage falls below an acceptable level, a flag in the tag non-volatile memory is cleared.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling radar transmissions for a system of antennas disposed on a moving platform. The radar transmissions are allocated to an antenna face for a future transmission. To effect an adequate allocation, a prediction arrangement is provided to predict the angular position of the moving platform and the antenna faces. Preferably an antenna is assigned that realizes the smallest off-broadside angle of the radar transmission.

Abstract: The marine Vessel Traffic System (VTS) is an improved radar harbor surveillance sensor, computer and display system that monitors marine harbor traffic, provides advisories to vessels in areas selected by the system operators, and provide the operators of the system with an early warning of unacceptable traffic conflicts in the confined waterways of the harbor. The VTS collects harbor traffic information from multiple remote sensor collection sites around the harbor and integrates, records, merges and presents the remote site data onto a single operator display, selected from a plurality of operator displays. VTS provides quick accurate computer generated graphic display of the harbor traffic, possible surface and subsurface conflicts, and key vessel identification information and the VTS documents incidents and traffic conditions for the Coast Guard or other waterway authorities.

Abstract: A detection system for small water craft, such as a kayak. Radar reflective material is incorporated in the surface of the kayak or other water craft, and also is incorporated in surface areas of water craft accessories, such as cushion, life vest or paddle. When the smaller water craft is in the vicinity of a larger aircraft which may be radar equipped so that there is danger of a collision or where the water craft is in a position where it would want detection as part of a rescue effort or the like, the water craft is oriented so that the radar reflective surface would reflect radar back to the sending source, thus better enabling detection. Also, the paddle or other water craft accessory could be positioned so as to reflect the radar waves. Further, the paddle or other accessory could be oriented to reflect the radar waves back to the source, or do so intermittently, in the event that the radar system is programmed to ignore a constant reflective signal.

Abstract: A collision avoidance system mountable on an aircraft for providing to the pilot of that aircraft an early warning of the presence of another nearby threat aircraft within the surrounding air space. The system operates autonomously from that aircraft and does not require the presence of any matched system on board the threat aircraft. The system includes an omni-directional L-band microwave antenna formed by a dielectric sphere cut into eight equal “orange wedge” sectors covering eight distinct beam patterns. Eight L-band microwave signals are transmitted simultaneously from all eight dielectric sectors to provide a sphere of detection around the aircraft. The sectors also act as receivers for detecting a microwave signal reflected back from the threat aircraft, and indicating means provides information to the pilot regarding the direction, closeness and rate of closure of the threat aircraft.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus provide a control of the vessel maneuvering by a determination and displaying of the dangerous relative course zones, wherein the end of the vessel speed-vector should not be located for the object evasion tactic maneuvering and/or collision avoidance maneuvering and should be located for the object pursuit and/or interception tactic maneuvering. The apparatus comprises an object disposition evaluator, a control system, a dangerous criteria setting system, an initial data processor, at least one display and a dangerous relative course zone determiner, including an interface-signal distributor, a logic processor and signal distributor and a data processing system, comprising a trigonometric function processor, a summator, a multiplier-divider and a data processor.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for determining the position and/or the displacement in time (trace) of a (radar) target surface by a radar installation. A predeterminable number M of the largest echo amplitudes is first determined for the target surface, as well as the corresponding resolution cells (distance and azimuth coordinates). By averaging the distance and azimuth coordinates of the selected resolution cells, coordinates are determined for a reference point that is stable in space in relation to the target surface. This reference point is used for locating and/or tracing objects in particular ships.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a display system for displaying a past track of the ship, the present position of the ship, and a future predicted track of the ship, A display system according to the present invention generates coordinate data representing a desired pattern based on the ship's speed and the ship's bearing in order to display a past track of the ship and a future predicted track of the ship.

Abstract: The radar system comprises a transmitter unit and a receiving unit for radar signals, a trigger unit for guiding the radar signals from the transmitter unit and an aerial unit for transmitting the radar signals from the transmitting unit and for receiving reflected video signals. The transmitter unit and receiving unit each comprise at least two separate transmitters and receivers. All of the transmitters and receivers are triggered off by a common trigger which is arranged to trigger each individual transmitter mutually in series during a sequence period so that the transmitters produce signals with mutually distinct frequencies/characteristics. The individual receivers are matched to the respective transmitters to be able to present the frequencies/characteristics of video signals in approximately the entire sequence.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method for detection of oil spills and icebergs at sea and for aiding the navigation of ship traffic to avoid collisions between ships and icebergs. A constellation of polar orbiting satellites is used to determine the position of icebergs and oil spills within an observation area, and this information is transmitted to a data processing center which also receives information concerning the position of ships within the observation area. The data processing center uses this information to evaluate the likelihood of collisions between ship and icebergs and sends warning signals to the ships, alerting them to the danger. The data processing center also correlates the position of ships and oil spills to determine the likely cause of the latter.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting the position of a vessel in a broadcast image of the radar scan in a radar monitored area includes a television monitor for displaying a broadcast image of a radar scan of the area, and a controllable reflector for varying reflection of the radar waves impinging thereon from the monitoring radar to produce identifiable signal components in the broadcast image of the radar scan received on the television monitor. This controllable reflector may be actuated by the vessel operator to vary the reflection of the radar waves and produce variations in the broadcast image to enable the operator to identify the position of the vessel in the radar scan image appearing on the monitor. The monitoring installation includes a monitoring radar transmitter/receiver, and a television transmitter televising an image of the radar scan. Desirably, it includes a scan converter which receives the signals in polar coordinate form and provides rectangular raster signals with X and Y coordinates.

Abstract: A vehicular display includes a three-dimensional representation of a moving host vehicle fixed at a stationary point on the screen, and dynamic representations of objects located within a predetermined distance of the host vehicle in locations proportional and scaled to their respective distances and locations from the host. The display plots the trajectories of these objects and classifies them according to probability of collision, warning the user if collision is imminent. The display also includes a variety of navigational aids, including heading lines, compass indications, and various non-alphanumeric indicators. Both the hardware and software used in the system are of the type which may be provided on small civilian craft, in addition to replacing the more complex and less intuitive displays presently provided in such contexts as commercial aircraft, marine vehicles, and air traffic control systems. The display also may be adapted for use in outer space.

Abstract: A collision avoidance system for sea navigation comprises, for each equipped ship, a transmitter that repeatedly transmits the geographic coordinates, course and speed of its own ship and a receiver that sends a display device similar data received from other ships. These received data are displayed, mostly in the form of symbols, on the panoramic screen of the display device.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a radar system having a function for setting a watch alarm region, which function has been improved in operability. A region displayed in a display part surrounding the radar system is divided by two border lines. One region, for example, a region having a smaller angle contained by the two border lines, is controlled to be set as the watch alarm region in accordance with the first setting instruction from a user, the other region is next controlled to be reset as the watch alarm region when receiving the second instruction from the user within a predetermined time period. Thus, the user may select one between the divided regions as desired, through easy operations. If a wrong region has been selected as the watch alarm region, differently from the user's will, the mistake may be readily corrected.

Abstract: The disclosed system has, for each equipped ship, a transmitter that repetitively transmits the geographical coordinates, speed and course of its own ship. Furthermore, it transmits an identification code of any nature serving as an address for the exchange of messages. If it wishes to make concerted arrangements with other surrounding ships in order to perform maneuvers, it sends encoded messages taken out of a glossary.

Abstract: A system to control sea navigation or traffic of a plurality of ships or moving bodies is disclosed. The system comprises a radio navigation reference system comprising at least two reference beacon sources and a navigation central station M. Said central station M, the reference beacon sources and the ships or moving bodies are provided with a first intercommunication means from said central station M to each reference beacon source, said first intercommunication means being synchronized by said central station M, and a second intercommunication means from said central station and each reference beacon source to each ship or moving body.

Abstract: A craft tracking and collision avoidance system is disclosed. The system allows the positions of a plurality of craft, either on land, sea, or air, or space, to be monitored. Each craft determines its own position using an existing position determining system such as LORAN or GPS. Each craft then transmits a radio frequency signal into which position information, preferably identifying information, and other messages, have been encoded. Each craft broadcasts its position, identifying information and other messages on a regular basis without the need for any interrogation signal. The broadcast position and identification information can be received by other craft and, since each craft has determined its own position, can be used to determine the proximity and identity of other craft, and if the craft are on a collision course.

Abstract: A microwave signal detector system provides a visual indication of the relative bearing of a remote source of microwave energy. An antenna for receiving said microwave energy includes a plurality of microwave-sensitive elements arranged in a planar circular array for receiving pulses from all azimuth directions. Each microwave sensing element is adapted to monitor energy received in a predetermined angular sectors and includes a horn element and a microwave energy responsive diode disposed within said horn element. The diode is connected as part of a voltage divider to develop a noise signal corresponding to the microwave energy received at each sector resulting from vibrations in the diode which occur at an audio frequency. The resultant developed noise signal is digitized and compared to a predetermined threshold to provide an output control signal when the developed signal exceeds the value of the threshold. The output signal drives an LED indicator.

Abstract: A ship track indicating apparatus displays the ship track of another ship with a line of narrow width on the screen of the indicator of a radar apparatus so that the ship track of another ship can be easily distinguished. The images of another ship are suppressed from being broadened and noise images are prevented from being accumulated. The apparatus includes a radar apparatus for detecting positions of another ship, a transforming device for transforming radar echoes to fine spots, a ship track memory for storing the fine spots representative of positions of another ship to form a ship track, and an indicator for indicating the contents of the ship track memory on the screen thereof. The apparatus also displays the characters of radar echoes such as the size and the attitude thereof.

Abstract: A sensor input/output system in a main radar system maintains continuous power to the compass interface when the main radar system is shut down. A single level of interrupt handlers is utilized without interrupt nesting or control by task executive software. The sensor input/output system is functionally partitioned such that all of the service required by an interrupt is continuously provided until the service is completed. A digital processor for providing the interrupt servicing and control and PROM firmware for storing the interrupt handlers also have backup power continuously applied. Since the processor compass interrupt handler and compass interface are continuously powered, heading synchronization is maintained by the main radar system during power down conditions.

Abstract: A radar equipment comprising a display unit (FIG. 1) and a scanning unit (FIG. 2) linked together by electrical conductors (94,72,106,26) for the transmission of information and/or control signals between the units, and circuitry (90,98; 66,69; 102,108; and 25,162, respectively) for superimposing on an individual conductor more than one of the signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for monitoring ice masses wherein a signal transmitter is attached to an ice mass and receivers are used to detect the location of the transmitter.

Abstract: Target pixel signals representing radar echo signals are stored in an addressable memory; and the contents of at least selected storage locations within a preset guard zone are read out of the memory. If a pixel signal of sufficient value is stored in the read out location, the presence of a target within the preset guard zone is indicated if that pixel signal is verified as being one of several which, presumably, are derived from a target.

Abstract: The present application discloses a ship collision preventive aid apparatus in which a radar picture and a key picture are selected from all pictures displayed on a display means as transmitted through a touch panel, and the operator touches the surface of the touch panel, so that a program for an operation key name selected is executed. Predetermined collision preventive aid data required for collision avoidance are then displayed on a display screen.With operation simplified, appropriate information concerning collision avoidance may be supplied and the entire construction is simplified.

Abstract: A radiotelephone and a radar transponder are interconnected in such a manner as to establish a VHF communications link via the radiotelephone in response to interrogation of the radar transponder. The radar transponder will ordinarily be periodically enabled and will transmit a code which partially identifies the transmission source in response to interrogation when enabled. The radiotelephone will also be periodically enabled so as to transmit a more complete identifying code and requests and coded information received via the VHF communications link will be decoded and displayed.