Marine Vehicle Patents (Class 701/21)
  • Patent number: 11970251
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a marine vessel is configured to operate a lanyard system to detect at least one fob worn by an individual present on the marine vessel and determine that a missing fob of the at least one fob is no longer detected, wherein the missing fob is either an operator fob or a passenger fob. A man overboard event is generated based on the missing fob, wherein the man overboard event is an operator overboard event if the missing fob includes the operator fob or a passenger overboard event if the missing fob is the passenger fob. One or more search assistance functions are automatically activated based on the man overboard event, wherein the search assistance functions activated depend on whether the man overboard event is the operator overboard event or the passenger overboard event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Gonring, Walter B. Ross, Fredrik Eriksen, Christian Frost Røine
  • Patent number: 11945558
    Abstract: A system and method for precise and consistent control of automated systems for deployment of boat fenders. The system comprises a computing device, one or more sensors, a motor controller, and a motor driver for operating motorized systems for deployment and/or retrieval of boat fenders. Various embodiments of the system use sensors and corresponding compensators to adjust the time of operation of a motor of the motorized system to ensure that the boat fender is deployed and/or retrieved to the proper height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Shmuel Sam Arditi
  • Patent number: 11914376
    Abstract: The invention discloses an unmanned surface vessel (USV) formation path-following method based on deep reinforcement learning, which includes USV navigation environment exploration, reward function design, formation pattern keeping, a random braking mechanism and path following, wherein the USV navigation environment exploration is realized adopting simultaneous exploration by multiple underactuated USVs to extract environmental information, the reward function design includes the design of a formation pattern composition and a path following error, the path following controls USVs to move along a preset path by a leader-follower formation control strategy, and path following of all USVs in a formation is realized by constantly updating positions of the USVs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: WUHAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yong Ma, Yujiao Zhao, Hao Li
  • Patent number: 11898846
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for providing marine vessel data of a marine vessel with a plurality of sensor devices includes receiving a first sensor data item with first sensor data of a first sensor device of the plurality of sensor devices, associated with a first local timestamp generated based on a local clock; receiving a second sensor data item including second sensor data of a second sensor device of the plurality of sensor devices, associated with a second local timestamp generated based on the local clock and a first universal timestamp generated based on a universal clock; determining time correction value based on the second sensor data item's second local timestamp and the universal timestamp; and generating time information for the first sensor data of the first sensor device using the first local timestamp and the time correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventor: Juha-Antti Isojärvi
  • Patent number: 11884371
    Abstract: A ship body control device is provided, which includes a rudder controller configured to control a rudder angle of a ship, a sensor configured to measure a ship body direction of the ship, and an autopilot controller configured to output a rudder angle command to the rudder controller. The autopilot controller includes an angle-of-deviation calculating module configured to calculate a deviation angle of a stern direction from a target stern direction based on the ship body direction, and a rudder angle command setting module configured to set the rudder angle command so as to maintain a current rudder angle when the deviation angle is less than a first threshold, and to change it to a given fixed turning rudder angle when the deviation angle is the first threshold or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Hideki Ueno
  • Patent number: 11886191
    Abstract: The present application discloses is a scheduling method and system for fully autonomous waterborne inter terminal transportation, and belongs to the field of transportation. The method includes: establishing a dynamic scheduling model for waterborne Autonomous guided vessels (wAGVs); quickly inserting the dynamically arriving transportation tasks into all the existing wAGV paths, calculating the insertion cost and selecting the path and position with the lowest insertion cost to obtain updated initial paths; improving the initial path using a heuristic algorithm based on tabu search to obtain quasi-optimal wAGV paths; executing the scheduling wAGV paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Huarong Zheng, Wen Xu, Dongfang Ma, Fengzhong Qu
  • Patent number: 11874672
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a design method for an active disturbance rejection roll controller of a vehicle under disturbance of complex sea conditions, including: step 1: establishing a vehicle roll attitude control model; step 2: designing an active disturbance rejection controller (ADRC) on the basis of the control model in step 1 and a pole placement method; and step 3: performing an active disturbance rejection roll control by using the active disturbance rejection controller in step 2. The present disclosure solves the problem of a stable control of the vehicle under the disturbance of the complex sea conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Harbin Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Yuliang Bai, Xiaogang Wang, Zichen Zhang, Shuai Wang, Yongzhi Shan, Tianfu Xu, Xiaoshuai Zhang, Jianming Guo, Yaxu Quan, Ligang Dong
  • Patent number: 11873067
    Abstract: A ship body control device is provided, which includes a sensor, a propelling force controller, and an autopilot controller. The sensor measures a speed of a ship. The propelling force controller controls a propelling force of the ship. The autopilot controller outputs an instruction to reduce the propelling force to the propelling force controller, when a condition of canceling an automatic cruise in which the speed of the ship matches with an automatic ship speed setting is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Hideki Ueno
  • Patent number: 11866141
    Abstract: A ship body control device is provided, which includes a control lever having a neutral position, and processing circuitry. When the control lever is moved during an automatic cruise, the processing circuitry executes a deceleration control from a speed of a ship body during the automatic cruise, and when the position of the control lever is in agreement with a position for changing to a manual cruise, the processing circuitry changes the automatic cruise to the manual cruise at a rotating speed of an engine according to the position for changing to the manual cruise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Hideki Ueno
  • Patent number: 11852476
    Abstract: A tidal current display data generation apparatus for a movable body, for displaying tidal current information on a display screen, includes a tidal current information receiving terminal configured to receive tidal current information including a position of a tidal current on a chart of a region including the movable body, and a plurality of predicted tidal current directions of the tidal current at the position at a corresponding plurality of time instants, and a tidal current display data generation terminal configured to generate an indicator including a time scale determined according to the plurality of time instants, determine position of each predicted tidal current direction on the time scale at respective time instant, generate a plurality of symbols for respective positions on the time scale, each symbol indicating respective predicted tidal current direction at respective time instant, and output the indicator including the plurality of symbols to the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 11841415
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus, a method, and a system for determining speeding of a vessel. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include: receiving, by sound signal receiving apparatuses installed at at least two points, a sound signal of a first vessel operating at a preset section; extracting operation vibration information of the first vessel from each sound signal received by the sound signal receiving apparatuses installed at the at least two points; measuring an operation speed of the first vessel from each of the received sound signals; and constructing a database including operation speed range information matching the operation vibration information of the first vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Korean Oceanic and Atmospheric System Technology (KOAST)
    Inventor: Suk Young Yoon
  • Patent number: 11816994
    Abstract: A system for proximity sensing on a marine vessel includes a main inertial measurement unit (IMU) positioned on the marine vessel at a main installation attitude and a main location, a first proximity sensor configured to measure proximity of objects from a first sensor location on the marine vessel, and a first sensor IMU positioned on the marine vessel at the first sensor location and at a first installation attitude. A processor is configured to receive main IMU data from the main IMU and first IMU data from the first sensor IMU, wherein the main location of the main IMU on the marine vessel is known and at least one of the first sensor location and the first installation attitude of the first sensor IMU are initially unknown, calibrate the proximity measurements based on the main IMU data and the first IMU data, and output a calibration completion alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew E. Derginer, Aaron J. Ward, Travis C. Malouf
  • Patent number: 11794865
    Abstract: A method of proximity sensing on a marine vessel includes storing at least one zone map, wherein the zone map divides an area surrounding the marine vessel into two or more zones. Proximity measurements measured by one or more proximity sensors on the marine vessel are received, and the proximity measurements are then divided into zone sets based on a location of each proximity measurement with respect to the zone map. A closest proximity measurement in each zone set is then identified and a zone-filtered dataset is generated. The zone-filtered dataset contains only the closest proximity measurement from each zone set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew E. Derginer, Aaron J. Ward, Travis C. Malouf
  • Patent number: 11787511
    Abstract: A method for the use in offshore crew transfer when transferring a person between a crew transfer vessel and a structure or vice versa where a prediction system for predicting vessel bow motion in response to sea waves detected by said wave detection device is used. An indicator is adapted to indicate a prediction of vessel bow motion below a first bow motion threshold value within a first predetermined time period based on said prediction system. The transfer of the person only takes place when said vessel bow motion is indicated to be below the first vessel bow motion threshold value within the first predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Inventors: Morten Paranhos Perdomo Santos Rostrøm, Mikkel Haugaard Windolf, Niels Agner Jensen
  • Patent number: 11772766
    Abstract: A method of controlling a marine drive on a marine vessel includes receiving a trim position instruction to adjust a trim position of the marine drive, receiving a steering position of the marine drive, determining an allowable steering angle range based on the trim position instruction and/or the adjusted trim position of the marine drive, and controlling a trim actuator to adjust the trim position of the marine drive based on the trim position instruction, the steering position, and the allowable steering angle range such that the steering position of the marine drive remains within the allowable steering angle range for the adjusted trim position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Travis C. Malouf, Matthew W. Snyder, Jason S. Arbuckle
  • Patent number: 11770270
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an integrated automated driving system for a maritime autonomous surface ship (MASS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventors: Yong Ma, Yujiao Zhao
  • Patent number: 11767093
    Abstract: A control device of a marine propulsion device, which has an engine and a propeller and is mounted on a hull. The control device includes a processor, and a non-transitory storage medium having program instructions stored thereon. The execution of the program instructions by the processor causes the control device to acquire a rotation speed of the engine or a rotation speed of the propeller, acquire a torque of the engine, acquire a speed of the hull, and determine whether a ventilation of the engine has occurred based on at least two among the acquired rotation speed, the acquired engine torque, and the acquired hull speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 11762792
    Abstract: A marine-type communication device that reads data from a data bus, dynamically creates new data channels for a plurality of operational systems and performs a volatility assessment to determine when to save the data for transmission to a cloud network and when to transmit the data to the cloud network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Siren Marine, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Harper, Dave Morschhauser, Phillip King Gaynor
  • Patent number: 11760450
    Abstract: A ship body control device is provided, which includes a sensor, a propelling force controller, and an autopilot controller. The sensor measures a speed of a ship. The propelling force controller controls a propelling force of the ship. The autopilot controller outputs an instruction to reduce the propelling force to the propelling force controller, when a condition of canceling an automatic cruise in which the speed of the ship matches with an automatic ship speed setting is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Hideki Ueno
  • Patent number: 11731743
    Abstract: A marine vessel advisory system may be configured to calculate and provide operational information that show fuel consumption savings based on adjustment of vessel speed and/or heading. In an embodiment, the advisory system may operate real-time to collect operational and/or environmental conditions information to be used to calculate alternative operational performance of the marine vessel that will save fuel and reduce emissions. The calculations may include a simulation, machine learning, and/or artificial intelligence to determine a speed and/or heading of the marine vessel that will reduce fuel consumption. The advisory system may display the computed information for the operator, and the operator may elect to switch to the alternative operating parameters (e.g., slower speed).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Marine Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jan Mikalsen, Kjell Erik Larsen
  • Patent number: 11731748
    Abstract: A system for autonomous ocean data collection includes at least one sensor capable of collecting sensor data, at least one transmission device, and at least one computing device comprising one or more hardware processors and memory coupled to the one or more hardware processors, the memory storing one or more instructions which, when executed by the one or more hardware processors, cause the at least one computing device to generate data for transmission based on the sensor data collected by the at least one sensor, and cause the at least one transmission device to transmit the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Saildrone, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Elliott Jenkins, Dylan Owens
  • Patent number: 11675372
    Abstract: A method of controlling attitude of a marine vessel includes identifying a natural roll frequency of the marine vessel, measuring a roll motion of the marine vessel with an attitude sensor, and then determining that the roll motion exceeds the threshold roll where no corresponding steering input is present. The method further includes determining a counteracting drive movement for at least one propulsion device based on the measured roll motion and the natural roll frequency of the marine vessel. A steering actuator is then controlled to move the at least one propulsion device to effectuate the counteracting drive movement so as to counteract an environmentally-induced roll motion of the marine vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew E. Derginer, David D. Dochterman
  • Patent number: 11676740
    Abstract: Aggregated, submarine cable system information is securely stored, accessed and managed. Security is assured through the use of multi-factor authentication that is compliant with National Institutes of Standards And Technology and US. Government Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation requirements. Further, real-time audit logs are generated as end-users access controlled unclassified information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventors: Kathryn Costa, Glenn Ericksen, Theresa Linson, Nicholas Koopalethes, Donald B. Yowell, R. Bruce Morris, James Reidenbach, Jason Skinner
  • Patent number: 11628915
    Abstract: The instant invention describes devices and methods of measuring the differential air pressure at numerous representative points across the surface of the sail and providing visual feedback of areas of ideal laminar flow and areas of less than optimal airflow with an indication of how the sail must be adjusted to create the maximal differential in airflow. The invention utilizes an array of sensors that detect minute variations in barometric pressure and other data on each side of the sail surface. These sensors are connected together to form a network or net across the sail. This connection can be physical, using wires, or it may be wireless, using for example, but certainly not being limited to, Bluetooth LE 5.0 or other wireless topologies or technologies. Finally it may utilize a combination of wired and wireless connections to fit individual situations and may couple with existing terrestrial and satellite ship networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventor: Sean McNulty
  • Patent number: 11614075
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and system to monitor and advise the status of a group of floating platforms, such as offshore floating wind platforms, by using a floating platform's motion in the group and detect one or more anomalies to identify one or more disorders (including irregularities) in the group. Input for this method can include information of wind speed and direction and orientations of the wind turbine nacelles. The orientation of the platform can complement the orientation of a wind turbine nacelle on the platform in case the platform is equipped with a turret. Disorders include, but not limited to, mooring line failure, shifts of a drag anchor, other issues with the mooring system components such as fairleads, issues with the ballasting configuration of the floater, issues with the turret (if any), issues with the swivel of the nacelle, issues with the rotor, and issues with the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: TECHNIP ENERGIES FRANCE
    Inventors: Djoni Eka Sidarta, Nicolas Tcherniguin
  • Patent number: 11603173
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for continuous monitoring and control of the vessel performance and history of a vessel, and is configured for use with multiple wide-area network (WAN) interfaces. The disclosed systems can use multiple vessel system interfaces and inputs and outputs to log, report, and transmit vital information via a computer program that adapts to weighted metrics and WAN availability. This can help ensure that prioritized data always is sent first; while ancillary and auxiliary data are sent later through a transmission medium that is directed, timely, and fiscally responsible. Thus, real-time data can be processed to hasten repairs or troubleshooting, and long-term data can be analyzed for safety and nominal operation of machinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: NAUTI-TECH INC.
    Inventors: Jack Brunier, James Posillico, Philippe Mortelette
  • Patent number: 11597481
    Abstract: Methods and structures are disclosed for providing autonomous control of an underwater vehicle using a state machine. A controller is used onboard the underwater vehicle and includes a state machine having a plurality of operating states. Each of the plurality of operating states includes one or both of entrance criteria and exit criteria. The controller is configured to transition from executing a first operating state of the plurality of operating states to executing a second operating state of the plurality of operating states in response to the exit criteria of the first operating state and the entrance criteria of the second operating state both being met. The plurality of operating states includes a first portion of operating states associated with a first task, a second portion of operating states associated with a second task, and a third portion of operating states associated with both the first and second tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Julia E. Filiberti, Ronald M. Carvalho, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11591049
    Abstract: A method of deploying autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), the method comprising loading the AUVs into a deployment device; submerging the deployment device containing the AUVs after the AUVs have been loaded into the deployment device; towing the submerged deployment device containing the AUVs with a surface vessel; deploying the AUVs from the submerged deployment device as it is towed by the surface vessel; and operating a thruster of each AUV after it has been deployed so that it moves away from the submerged deployment device. A method of retrieving autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) is also disclosed, the method comprising towing a submerged retrieval device with a surface vessel; loading the AUVs into the submerged retrieval device as it is towed by the surface vessel; and after the AUVs have been loaded into the submerged retrieval device, lifting the submerged retrieval device containing the AUVs out of the water and onto the surface vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: AUTONOMOUS ROBOTICS LIMITED
    Inventors: David Alexander William Grant, Arran James Holloway
  • Patent number: 11586205
    Abstract: A marine autopilot system is disclosed. While in autopilot mode, the marine vessel's autopilot system autonomously steers the marine vessel's rudder. Steering input provided using the helm typically results in counter-steering to the autopilot. If the autopilot is following a current heading or course (route), the autopilot may continue its efforts to remain on the heading or course in response to the deviation caused by steering input to the helm. The disclosed autopilot system improves this problem by including one or more sensors that measure helm movement and wirelessly transmit helm movement data to one or more components of the marine vessel's electronic network. If the operator of the marine vessel manually steers the helm to deviate from a current heading or course, helm movement exceeding a predetermined autopilot disengagement threshold may cause the autopilot control to temporarily disengage, allowing a user to manually steer the marine vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: John T. Estabrook
  • Patent number: 11573087
    Abstract: A boat maneuvering control method for a boat includes acquiring target route information and information about an actual position of the boat, setting a target position based on the target route information and the information about the actual position, acquiring, as a deviation amount, a distance between the target position and the boat in a predetermined direction that intersects with a target route, and controlling a magnitude of a propulsion force of a propulsion device so as to reduce the deviation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Ito, Kohei Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11572147
    Abstract: A camera produces image data representing an image of a surrounding view of a watercraft. A controller obtains the image data. The controller recognizes an image representing a specific mark in the image data. With reference to a control data set, the controller obtains watercraft operating information associated with the specific mark recognized in the image data. The control data set defines a relationship between the specific mark and the watercraft operating information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kohei Terada
  • Patent number: 11545116
    Abstract: A ship information display device is provided, which may include a first processor, a second processor, a graphic processor, and a display. The first processor may generate a first image based on first ship information received from a first ship sensor and generate a screen to be synthesized including the first image and a blank image. The second processor may generate a second image based on second ship information received from a second ship sensor. The graphic processor may generate a synthesized screen including the first image and the second image by replacing the blank image of the screen to be synthesized by the second image generated by the second processor. The display may display the synthesized screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keita Nishida, Hiroshi Yoshii, Tatsuya Asahara, Kristian Ari Prasetyo
  • Patent number: 11535354
    Abstract: A control system for an outboard motor is provided which enables safe navigation over a shoal. A control system for an outboard motor including a propeller includes: a trim angle adjustment motor for changing the attitude of the outboard motor with respect to a watercraft; and a controller configured to selectively implement first control that operates the trim angle adjustment motor and controls the vertical position of the propeller to a first position, and second control that operates the trim angle adjustment motor and controls the vertical position of the propeller to a second position closer to a water surface than the first position. The controller acquires information on the depth of water a predetermined distance ahead in the travel direction of the watercraft, and determines which of the first control and the second control is implemented, on the basis of at least the information on the depth of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamamoto, Akifumi Fujima, Yoshihiro Harada
  • Patent number: 11526169
    Abstract: Various aspects provide for a propulsion system (200) for a ship (100) comprising at least first and second thrusters (205, 206) and first and second directors (220, 720), wherein a computing platform (300) is coupled to the thrusters and directors being configured to receive desired longitudinal and lateral headings (750, 760) and determine a configuration of the propulsion system that is expected to propel the ship in the desired longitudinal and lateral headings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: KONGSBERG MARITIME SWEDEN AB
    Inventors: Mikko Mattila, Daniel Ahl, Marko Vikstrom
  • Patent number: 11520002
    Abstract: A vessel monitoring service obtains transponder data of a vessel operating within a navigable area. In response to obtaining the transponder data of the vessel, the vessel monitoring service evaluates the transponder data and a plurality of travel segments recorded for a plurality of vessels to identify a travel segment to which the transponder data corresponds. The vessel monitoring service updates the travel segment using the transponder data and determine whether the vessel is engaged in an unauthorized activity. If so, the vessel monitoring service provides an indication that the vessel is engaged in the unauthorized activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Vulcan Technologies LLC
    Inventors: David Martin Moore, Mark Alexander Otterlee, Patrick Dunagan, Leina Tani
  • Patent number: 11518486
    Abstract: An unmanned undersea vehicle includes one or more vehicle sections. The sections include a vehicle hull. The vehicle includes a data crypt configured to be selectively removable from the vehicle through the hull of the vehicle. The data crypt includes a persistent storage device configured to operate using SATA protocols and one or more electrical connectors configured to selectively connect the data crypt to electrical equipment in the vehicle, wherein the connectors are impedance matched to mating connectors in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jason D. Aiello, Daryl B. Slocum, Douglas L. Veilleux, II, Cagdas Altin
  • Patent number: 11519603
    Abstract: A carbon monoxide detector and control system for internal combustion engine or heating devices and a method of operating the carbon monoxide detector system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: USSC ACQUISITION CORP.
    Inventors: Perry Deyoung, Daniel A. Paulsen
  • Patent number: 11505286
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to water vessels with a bow-mounted detecting system and methods for monitoring movement of an anchor at a bow of a water vessel. More particularly, a water vessel as disclosed herein can include an anchor apparatus positioned in or on a hull of the water vessel at about a bow thereof, a detecting positioned in or on the hull of the water vessel at about the bow thereof and having a forward-directed field-of-view, and a display device adapted to receive from the detecting device and display one or more captured images of the forward scene. A method as disclosed herein can comprise providing a water vessel as disclosed herein, activating the display device to display the one or more captured images, and activating the anchor apparatus so as to cause motorized deployment or retrieval of an anchor. The water vessel can particularly provide for real-time monitoring of deploying and/or retrieving an anchor using the detecting device and the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Scout Boats, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Potts, I, Steven E. Potts, II
  • Patent number: 11500384
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for path planning of a wave glider, comprising acquiring historical navigation data of the glider and an underwater vehicle via a shore-based monitoring center; fitting historical navigation data nonlinearly by a deep learning neural network to obtain a trained network; acquiring real-time navigation data of the glider at an off-line end, real-time navigation data and predetermined shipping track data of the vehicle; obtaining the set of off-line optimized path planning schemes of the glider by the above data and the trained network; and determining an optimal path planning scheme of the glider by the deep learning neural network according to real-time data and constraint data of the glider at the on-line end. The invention can reasonably plan the path of the glider and ensure continuous and reliable information interaction between the glider and the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignees: NATIONAL DEEP SEA CENTER, QINGDAO NATIONAL LABORATORY FOR MARINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CENTER
    Inventors: Tongwei Zhang, Lei Yan, Haibing Li, Xiujun Sun, Xianglin Xu, Jingxiao Liu, Lei Yang, Shengjie Qin
  • Patent number: 11493495
    Abstract: A method for analyzing a fluid of a pool by a floating system. The method may include sensing, by a sensor of the floating system, at least one out of (a) a wind parameter related to a wind that impinges on the floating system and (b) a movement of the floating system; wherein the floating system further comprises a top portion comprises at least one float, a submerged portion that comprises comprises a fluid analysis instrument, a power source, a controller, and a propulsion unit; determining, by the controller, an impact of the wind on the floating system based on the at least one out of the wind parameter and the movement of the floating system; controlling, by the controller, a movement of the floating system based, at least in part, on the impact of the wind; and analyzing, by the fluid analysis instrument, at one or more analysis points, the fluid of the pool to provide one or more fluid analysis results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: MAYTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Shay Witelson, Yair Hadari
  • Patent number: 11486989
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide speed through medium (STM) sensor calibration for mobile structures. An STM sensor calibration system includes a logic device configured to communicate with an STM sensor, an orientation sensor, and a position sensor for a mobile structure. The logic device determines a time series of estimated STM velocities and a time series of speed over ground (SOG) velocities during a dynamic maneuver of the mobile structure. The logic device determines an STM sensor calibration associated with the STM sensor based, at least in part, on the estimated STM velocities and the SOG velocities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: FLIR Belgium BVBA
    Inventor: Mark Johnson
  • Patent number: 11477756
    Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for enabling assignment of a responder unit to a user on a water vessel. The rescue system transmits a Short Message Service (SMS) message to a user device on the water vessel, the SMS message comprising a selectable option that, when selected, causes a location of the user device to be shared. Based on a selection by a user of the user device of the selectable option, the system receives a plurality of location coordinates from the user device at a plurality of respective times, each respective location coordinate describing a respective location of the user device at its respective time. The system selects a responder unit to assign to the user based on the plurality of location coordinates and a location of each of a plurality of candidate responder units. The system transmits location information to a responder device of the selected responder unit, the location information based on the plurality of location coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: i911 International, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Ryan Bennett
  • Patent number: 11459069
    Abstract: A watersports boat offering improved wake scaling includes a hull having a static flow plane and an operating plane separated by an operating angle, rear corners of the hull each defining a distinct transition from a respective side of the hull to a transom of the hull. A shape of the outer perimeter of the hull along the operating plane includes a pair of outward curves, each outward curve curving away from a hull centerline moving forwardly of a respective one of the rear corners of the hull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Correct Craft IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Eric J. Miller, Adam C. Greer
  • Patent number: 11448773
    Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for enabling seamlessly tracking a location of a water vessel by supplementing satellite data with mobile data location based on proximity of a water vessel to shore. The system receives a Global Positioning System (GPS) location of the water vessel, the GPS location of the water vessel based on using the satellite data of the water vessel. The system determines that the GPS location is within a threshold distance of a boundary. Responsive to determining that the GPS location is within the threshold distance of the boundary, the system initiates monitoring for a mobile signal emanating from a trajectory path of the water vessel. The system detects, during the monitoring, the mobile signal, the tracking the location of the water vessel based on mobile data of the mobile signal. The system provides the tracked location to a monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: i911 International, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Ryan Bennett
  • Patent number: 11443637
    Abstract: A proximity sensor system on a marine vessel includes one or more proximity sensors, each at a sensor location on the marine vessel and configured to measure proximity of objects and generate proximity measurements. A processor is configured to store a two-dimensional vessel outline of the marine vessel with respect to a point of navigation for the marine vessel, receive the proximity measurements measured by one or more proximity sensors on the marine vessel, and identify four linearly-closest proximity measurements to the two-dimensional vessel outline, including one closest proximity measurement in each of a positive X direction, a negative X direction, a positive Y direction, and a negative Y direction. The processor then generates a most important object (MIO) dataset identifying the four linearly-closest proximity measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Travis C. Malouf, Aaron J. Ward, Matthew E. Derginer
  • Patent number: 11436927
    Abstract: A system for proximity sensing on a marine vessel includes a main inertial measurement unit (IMU) positioned at a main installation attitude and a main location, a first proximity sensor configured to measure proximity of objects from a first sensor location, and a first sensor IMU positioned at the first sensor location and at a first installation attitude. A sensor processor is configured to receive main IMU data from the main IMU and first IMU data from the first sensor IMU, and then determine a relative orientation transform between the main installation attitude and the first installation attitude by comparing the main IMU data and the first IMU data, and then determine a relative position transform between the main location and the first sensor location based on the relative orientation transform, the main IMU data, and the first IMU data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew E. Derginer, Aaron J. Ward, Travis C. Malouf
  • Patent number: 11414168
    Abstract: A method for determining a speed profile for a marine vessel. The method includes determining a travel segment along which the marine vessel is expected to travel; determining a curvature value indicative of a curvature of the travel segment; on the basis of at least the curvature value, determining a speed profile for the marine vessel along the travel segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: CPAC SYSTEMS AB
    Inventor: David Nydahl
  • Patent number: 11383814
    Abstract: A sensor that detects a shape of a surrounding environment of a boat and a positional relationship between the surrounding environment and the boat body outputs environment information indicating the shape of the surrounding environment and the positional relationship. A display displays an environment map indicating the surrounding environment. An input accepts an input of a shore arrival target position of the boat body on the environment map and outputs target position information indicating the shore arrival target position. A controller receives the environment information and the target position information, determines a possible shore arrival space of the boat body in the surrounding environment based on the environment information, and corrects the shore arrival target position based on the possible shore arrival space. The controller generates an instruction signal to control a propulsion device so as to cause the boat body to arrive at the shore at the corrected shore arrival target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shu Akuzawa, Hirotaka Aoki, Yusuke Ashida
  • Patent number: 11378984
    Abstract: A vessel-azimuth control apparatus is configured in such a way that an azimuth controller generates and outputs an angular velocity command, based on an azimuth command from an azimuth command generator and an actual azimuth, in such a way that an angular velocity controller generates and outputs a steering angle command, based on the angular velocity command, a vessel speed, and an actual angular velocity, and in such a way that a vibration suppression controller outputs a final steering angle command, based on the steering angle command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Cornoration
    Inventors: Naoki Imamura, Ryo Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 11372412
    Abstract: A system and method for steering a vessel includes correction by calibration with respect to displacement between a tilt direction of a joystick and a moving direction of the vessel. When receiving a command to start the calibration, a controller performs a calibration for right and left propulsion devices such that a tilt direction of a joystick is matched with a moving direction of a vessel. When performing a subsequent calibration, the controller additionally performs the calibration for the right and left propulsion devices to which the calibration has been previously applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kohei Yamaguchi