Abstract: An aquatic vessel, illustratively a pontoon boat including a thruster system is disclosed. The aquatic vessel executes a process to automatically position the aquatic vessel relative to a target location such as a mooring implement. Exemplary mooring implements include a dock, a slip, or a lift.

Abstract: Method, systems, and computer-readable media containing instructions which, when executed by a computing device, cause it to receive data from an inertial measurement unit, including GPS data, velocity data, and bearing data, receive data from a digital magnetic compass, including bearing data, receive data from a Doppler sensor, including velocity data and distance data, determining whether GPS location data is in consensus with a previous derived multi-source reckoning system location, determining a consensus distance value from a weighted average of data from the inertial measurement unit and the Doppler sensor, determine a consensus heading value from a weighted average of data from the inertial measurement unit and the digital magnetic compass, determine a consensus geolocation value from a weighted average of data from the inertial measurement unit and the previous derived multi-source reckoning system location, and determine a derived multi-source reckoning system location.

Abstract: A technique capable of determining a suitable or optimum exclusive region (bumper) setting value and improving the accuracy and others of ship collision avoidance support and automatic ship maneuvering as a result is provided. A ship maneuvering calculation device 1 calculates setting information of an automatic ship collision avoidance program 3 for achieving a function of an automatic ship collision avoidance device 2 of a vessel.

Abstract: A smart radar data mining and target location corroboration system has a target incident processing system (TIPS) and target information system (TIS) that provide corroborating radar data in response to target incident data, to assist search and response personnel in responding to high-risk safety or security incidents involving an uncooperative vessel or aircraft. The TIPS rapidly mines large volumes of historical radar track data, accessible through the TIS, to extract corroborating radar data pertinent to the target incident data. The corroborating radar data include trajectories, last known radar position (LKRP) or first known radar position (FKRP) information believed to be associated with the target incident data.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methodologies, systems, and devices for monitoring metrics associated with a marine vessel. A marine monitoring system includes a machine type communication (MTC) server; a computing device in communication with the MTC server; a user application residing on the computing device; and a marine electronic device located at a marine vessel. The marine electronic device is in communication with the MTC server, and is configured to connect to one or more wired or wireless marine sensors.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a vessel collision avoiding system and method based on Artificial Potential Field algorithm, the method comprises the following steps: (S1) obtaining a vessel information, at least one obstacle information and a target information; (S2) establishing an Artificial Potential Field (APF) by the vessel information, the at least one obstacle information and the target information, wherein the Artificial Potential Field comprises an attractive field of the target and a repulsive field of the obstacle; (S3) combining the attractive field and the repulsive field to obtain a first resultant force; (S4) Adding an external force to the Artificial Potential Field based on the vessel information or the obstacle information; (S5) combining the first resultant force and the external force to obtain a second resultant force; and (S6) the vessel sails in the direction of the second resultant force to avoid the obstacle.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide visually correlated radar imagery for mobile structures. A visually correlated radar imagery system includes a radar system, an imaging device, and a logic device configured to communicate with the radar system and imaging device. The radar system is adapted to be mounted to a mobile structure, and the imaging device may include an imager position and/or orientation sensor (IPOS). The logic device is configured to determine a horizontal field of view (FOV) of image data captured by the imaging device and to render radar data that is visually or spatially correlated to the image data based, at least in part, on the determined horizontal FOV. Subsequent user input and/or the sonar data may be used to adjust a steering actuator, a propulsion system thrust, and/or other operational systems of the mobile structure.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology can include systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media configured to adaptively identify clutter points representing static objects from a sensor data scan. A plurality of sensor data scans are captured, by a sensor unit placed on a vehicle, at a plurality of consecutive time instants while the vehicle is traveling along a route. A set of target points from each of the plurality of sensor data scans is identified. A characteristic indicative of a trajectory pattern relating to one or more respective sets of target points is obtained from one or more sensor data scans taken at consecutive time instants. In response to determining that the characteristic satisfies a pre-defined condition, an indicator with the respective sets of target points is adopted as relating to one or more static objects in an environment at which the vehicle is situated.

Abstract: To accurately calculate a location range which a ship is capable of reaching within a prescribed time interval. A signal processing device is configured so as to be equipped with reachable range calculation units 17, 18 which calculate a reachable range, which is the location range a ship is capable of reaching within a prescribed time interval, on the basis of the static information of the ship.

Abstract: The subject matter discloses an object detection apparatus, comprising an external housing connectable to a surface, said external housing comprising sensors configured to scan a predetermined scanning space to detect an object located within said scanning space; a sensor extraction mechanism, which exposes the sensors to an environment surrounding the external housing to enable scanning of said environment by the sensors; a detection processor configured to receive a command to activate the sensors to scan the predetermined scanning space; activate the sensor extraction mechanism to expose the sensors for performing the scan; activate the sensors to scan the predetermined scanning space; receive scan data from the sensors; analyze the scan data to determine a hazardous object has been detected; generate a notification that a hazardous object was detected within the scanned area.

Abstract: A vessel includes a body, such as surfboard, that floats in water. One or more thrusters, and one or more sensors are provided on the body. A controller is configured to selectively activate the thrusters to cause the vessel to move along a path through the water, receive sensor data from the one or more sensors while the vessel is moving along the path, determine, based on the sensor data, whether a dangerous condition is present in the water; and output a warning when the dangerous condition is present in the water. For example, the collected sensor data may relate to locations and directions of currents in the water, the dangerous condition may relate to a rip current, and the warning may identify at least one attribute of the rip current. A map identifying a location of the dangerous condition may be generated and forwarded to other devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein leverage dependence relationships between sensor readings to facilitate rapid detection of erroneous sensor readings and rapid response times when accurate sensor readings indicate events that call for remedial action. When a target sensor reports a questionable sensor reading, systems described herein can query additional sensors whose readings share expected dependence relationships with readings from the target sensor. Systems described herein determine whether the questionable sensor reading is trustworthy based on the expected dependence relationships and additional sensor readings received from the additional sensors. If the questionable sensor reading is trustworthy, the system can trigger appropriate remedial action and increase query rates for the additional sensors (and the target sensor) to monitor an underlying event more closely. If the questionable reading is not trustworthy, the system can trigger appropriate remedial action (e.g.

Abstract: A traffic control system and a method of automatic zone creation for a smart traffic camera to be used in adaptive traffic management at an intersection are disclosed. In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method includes receiving traffic data at an intersection; creating zones at the intersection to be applied to one or more smart traffic cameras installed at the intersection; determining whether the zones are to be validated; validating the zones upon determining that the zones are to be validated; and applying the validated zones to the one or more smart traffic cameras at the intersection.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for forecasting the positions of marine vessels. In an aspect, the present system is adapted to execute a forecasting algorithm to forecast the positions of one or a great many marine vessel(s) based on one or more position reporting systems including coastal and satellite AIS (S-AIS) signals or LRIT received from the vessel. The forecasting algorithm utilizes location and direction information for the vessel, and estimates one or more possible positions based on previous paths taken by vessels from that location, and heading in substantially the same direction. Thus, a body of water can be divided into “bins” of location and direction information, and a spatial index can be built based on the previous paths taken by other vessels after passing through that bin. Other types of information may also be taken into account, such as ship-specific data, nearby weather, ocean currents, the time of year, and other spatial variables specific to that bin.

Abstract: A system comprising a radar subsystem including a radar transmitter and a radar receiver, and an encoder subsystem including a computer connected to a transmitter and two antennas. The computer is configured to encode and transmit a custom payload AIS Type 8 message. A second computer connected to a receiver and antenna receives the message. The custom payload AIS Type 8 message contains target longitude, latitude fields, range, and bearing fields. A method for transmitting and receiving the radar track of a target ship including: receiving the radar signal at the own ship; encoding the target ship longitude, latitude, speed, and course into a custom payload AIS Type 8 message; transmitting the custom message to a receiver ship; decoding and displaying the target ship longitude, latitude, course, and speed at the receiver ship.

Abstract: A navigation assist system having a plurality of navigation assist apparatuses installed on small boats like motorboats each fitted with an outboard motor to be able to navigate in a predetermined water area, and a server placed on land to communicate with the navigation assist apparatuses. Each of the navigation assist apparatuses detects a sharp turn position of the boat, adds the position to a danger level data downloaded from the server unit, and alerts an operator concerned when the boat approaches a region whose danger level is great.

Abstract: A ship-collision prevention system and method for preventing a collision between ships at sea including a ship-collision avoidance guiding system using a time series graphic display, and guiding system displays, in a time series graph, depicting changes in relative distance according to time with respect to respective ships and obstacles on the basis of information provided from an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) and a radar system, wherein, whether other ships are on portside or starboard is displayed on the basis of radar information, and a notification through an alarm or the like if a distance to a specific ship has matched a predetermined threshold value or less, and effectively preventing a collision between ships at sea, and simultaneously, enabling a simulation for a crossing event and avoidance by inputting a random value.

Abstract: A radar apparatus is provided, which includes an approaching velocity calculating module configured to calculate an approaching velocity of a target object from which a reflection wave caused by an electromagnetic wave is obtained, based on a change in one of phase and frequency of the electromagnetic wave transmitted and received by a radar antenna, the approaching velocity being a velocity component in a transmission direction of the electromagnetic wave, a tracking determining module configured to determine whether to track the target object based on the approaching velocity of the target object, a tracking module configured to automatically track the target object determined to be tracked by the tracking determining module, and a display controlling module configured to display the tracking result of the tracking module along with a radar image.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling imaging devices are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, an apparatus for controlling a plurality of imaging devices includes a receiving unit configured to receive user commands for controlling the imaging devices; a first queue configured to store the user commands; an I/O unit configured to receive device messages from the imaging devices; and a processor configured to determine if the first queue is empty, process one of the user commands in the first queue when the first queue is not empty, and process one of device messages from the imaging devices only if the first queue is empty.

Abstract: A vessel with auxiliary steering includes a vessel hull with a bow/stern centerline and a port and starboard side. The vessel has (i) a main propulsion unit including at least one propeller and at least one main rudder, and (ii) a secondary propulsion unit including at least one directional water jet thruster on each of the port and starboard side of the vessel hull. The water jet thrusters are configured to direct water outwardly and perpendicularly to the centerline of the hull, and a control system coordinates the direction of the main rudder and the flow direction of at least one water jet thruster.

Abstract: A navigation assist system having a plurality of navigation assist apparatuses installed on small boats like motorboats each fitted with an outboard motor to be able to navigate in a predetermined water area, and a server placed on land to communicate with the navigation assist apparatuses. Each of the navigation assist apparatuses detects a trim-up position of the outboard motor, adds the position to a danger level data downloaded from the server unit, and alerts an operator concerned when the boat approaches a region whose danger level is great.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium stores a collision risk calculation program that causes a computer to execute a process including: acquiring traveling information on a position and a speed of each of a first ship and a second ship; calculating a future traveling direction range of one or both of the first ship and the second ship based on a position of each of the first ship and the second ship and traveling information of a ship that sailed in a past; and calculating a risk of collision between the first ship and the second ship based on the future traveling direction range.

Abstract: Embodiments for providing aquatic epidemic alerts by a processor are described. Information associated with an aquatic epidemic in a body of water is received. A threat level associated with the aquatic epidemic for a location within the body of water is determined based on the information associated with the aquatic epidemic and water flow data associated with the body of water. An indication of the threat level is generated.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable medium for navigation safety and collision prevention are described herein. The apparatus may cause the collection of marine electronic data from marine data sources. Marine data sources may include a radar system, a sonar system, a position system, a tracking system, and/or a chart system. The apparatus may further determine, based upon the marine electronic data, the presence of a hazard in the projected path of the watercraft. The apparatus may determine if the hazard is within a threshold distance and, in response, may cause the watercraft to stop before reaching the hazard. In some instances, the apparatus may transmit a warning alert to the watercraft operator, and after a predetermined period of time without response by the operator, the apparatus may cause the watercraft to stop to prevent collision with the hazard.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining a velocity of a vessel, comprising the steps of: detecting objects in the vicinity of the vessel; selecting an object having a velocity relative to the vessel which is below a predefined threshold; and determining the velocity of the vessel to be opposite to the velocity of the object. Also disclosed is an apparatus arranged to perform the method.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a sail path of vessels on a map representative of a marine geographic area, to perform a turn between a start point and an end point, each vessel having a turn radius, the start point, respectively the end point, being associated with a start, respectively an end, circle, the sail path being curvilinear and composed of arcs and straight segments.

Abstract: A computer implemented method includes receiving maritime vessel automatic identification system (AIS) data from a vessel. The method includes determining that the maritime vessel AIS data includes anomalous data. The method also includes estimating a likelihood of malicious vessel intent based on a comparison of the anomalous data to secondary data. In response to the likelihood of malicious vessel intent satisfying a threshold, the method further includes generating an alert that includes an indication of an inferred intent for the vessel.

Abstract: Provided is a vessel monitoring method of a vessel monitoring system, which includes receiving first vessel information from an automatic identification system message output from a vessel, receiving second vessel information on the vessel from a port management information system, selecting a vessel tracking parameter on a basis of the first vessel information and the second vessel information, and tracking the vessel by using a tacking algorithm corresponding to the vessel tracking parameter.

Abstract: Described are dual button push to talk devices that enable a user to simultaneously monitor multiple call nets/voice conferences and selectively respond on each call net that includes a PTT controller that connects to/controls audio streams received from a radio and a voice telephony EUD, selectively routs the audio streams from the radio and the EUD to left and right earpiece outputs simultaneously and selectively routs audio received from microphone input to the radio and the EUD. The PTT receives the radio audio streams through a radio interface and microphone input audio is selectively routed to the radio through the radio interface. The PTT may also include an EUD input, wherein the EUD audio stream is received through the EUD input and a EUD microphone output, in which the audio received from the microphone input is selectively routed to the EUD microphone output.

Abstract: A movable body display device includes an acquisition component, a memory component, an input component, a length adjuster, and a display controller. The acquisition component acquires position and speed of a movable body. The memory component stores a plurality of display ranges, a number of range rings for each display range, and a reference speed. The input component receives input designating one of the display ranges. The length adjuster adjusts length of a speed vector on a screen such that length of a speed vector indicating the reference speed on the screen is the same as a spacing of the range rings on the screen based on the display range. The display controller displays the movable body on the screen according to the position, and displays adjacent to the movable body a speed vector for which heading and length have been set based on the length and the speed.

Abstract: Method for recognizing boats in a port includes: establishing land/water boundaries from an image of the port including one or more boats, using a land mask and image statistics, without requiring a site model; utilizing the established land/water boundaries to determine thresholds and normalization parameters; detecting one or more bow candidates for the boats in the image; computing an orientation of each of the boats with detected bows; computing features along the bow candidates to eliminate false bow candidates; fitting boat models to the detected one or more bow candidates; determining one or more best fit models from the fitted boat models; calculating features in an interior, exterior and outline of the best fit models; applying a statistical classifier to score each of the one or more best fit models and to eliminate false alarms; and eliminating lower scoring best fit models.

Abstract: Surveillance system for detecting the position, movement, nature of one or more objects and even communicate with it, that is adaptive to any extent and suitable for any mobile or fixed structure and even for persons, because of its flexible open architecture, which is fully modular to develop self-contained compact radar devices of special performances when working either autonomously, like conventional video-cameras nevertheless operating also with microwaves and therefore called microwave-cameras or radar-cameras, or jointly to form more complex interactive systems.

Abstract: A target tracking system including a tracking module arranged to perform model-based tracking of a target based on received measurements from a sensor. A detector is arranged to detect as a target performs a maneuver. An output switching module is arranged to switch from a first output mode in which model estimations of the tracking module are forwarded, to at least a second output mode in which only reliable outputs are forwarded, in response to information indicating the detection of a target maneuver being received from the detector. Also a collision avoidance system, a method for tracking a target and a computer program product.

Abstract: A method for rejecting false alarms in preliminary detected ship candidates includes: receiving an image including the plurality of preliminary ship candidates; computing intensity and gradient statistics from an image background around each of the preliminary ship candidates; determining a set of thresholds from the computed intensity and gradient statistics; determining an outline and an orientation for each of the preliminary ship candidates, using the computed intensity and gradient statistics; extracting a plurality of features from each of the outlines and orientations of the preliminary ship candidates, wherein the plurality of features includes intensity-based features, gradient-based features, texture-based features and shape-based features; and rejecting false alarms in the plurality of preliminary detected ship candidates using the extracted features and the determined thresholds and statistical distance classifiers.

Abstract: A method, performed by a computer having a processor and system memory, for calibrating a tie height of a ballast profiling rail vehicle having a remote sensing system, includes traversing the rail vehicle along a first calibration section of railroad track at a calibration speed, detecting, using the remote sensing system, a plurality of height to tie measurements in the first calibration section, establishing a rolling median average of the height to tie measurements, and determining a calibration tie height relative to the rail vehicle based upon the rolling median average.

Abstract: Described herein is a technology for facilitating complex event processing for moving objects. In some implementations, data associated with moving objects is received from multiple data sources. One or more constraints associated with an event-of-interest are determined. The event-of-interest that satisfies the one or more constraints is detected based on the data. A notification of the detected event-of-interest may then be sent. For purposes of illustration, some specific complex event processing scenarios based on maritime vessels have been presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the present framework.

Abstract: An electronic navigational route developer may accept user input regarding the user's boat, such as height, draft and beam, and develop a route from a start point to end point based on cartographic information and the boat information.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method for combining data from multiple radar signals on a single PPI includes receiving, from a first radar device having a first angular range of visibility, first radar signal data corresponding to the first angular range of visibility. The method further includes receiving, from a second radar device having a second angular range of visibility, second radar signal data corresponding to the second angular range of visibility. The method further includes performing compensation processing on at least a portion of the second radar signal data to form modified second radar signal data that is correlated to the first radar signal data. The method further includes combining at least a portion the first radar signal data with at least a portion of the modified second radar signal data to form combined radar signal data and generating, based on the combined radar signal data, a display on a radar PPI display.

Abstract: A radar surveillance system is described in which the radar beam re-visits each area of interest after a short period of time, by electronically reconfiguring a scanned beam to an offset position for an interleaved sub-dwell, within a scan period. This ‘look-back’ capability, where the area under test is re-visited after approximately 1 second, allows the natural de-correlation of sea clutter to take place between the initial and look-back samples of the surveillance area. The re-visit time can be adjusted to best exploit the de-correlation characteristics of the sea clutter return.

Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media are described herein for providing an automated validation of vehicle positioning and corresponding error notification. According to various aspects, a first position of a vehicle may be determined using a first positioning system. A second position of the vehicle may be determined using a second positioning system. An offset between the first and second positions of the vehicle may be determined. If the offset exceeds a threshold offset, a notification may be provided to indicate a potential error in the position of the vehicle.

Abstract: There may be situations in which a ship at sea is lost and GPS is not available due to jamming, and neither a position fix nor GPS is available, or the heading and attitude sensors are degraded. A system and method allow estimating a ship's heading and pitch using radar range measurements, multiple antennas and satellite ephemeris data.

Abstract: A method for automatic and continuous surveillance based on central and/or distributed surveillance of presence, positions, movements and movement pattern of one or more vessels (1) in narrow waters, a sailing lane or where danger of collision with other vessels or other fixed or floating collision risks exist. The vessel emits a sweeping signal (4) that repeatedly hits one or more detectors (5.n) detecting the character of the sweeping signal and the time intervals between the signal hits on the respective detector. The exact position of the vessel and/or movements is mainly calculated on the basis of trigonometric principles, and the vessel identity (“fingerprint”) is produced by using sophisticated signal analysis to extract the characteristic signal sequences from the received detection signals which are related to the transmitted radar signal(s) from the vessel(s).

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the presentation of wake turbulence information. A processor located on an ownship receives position, heading and type information of another aircraft and position and heading information of the ownship. The processor determines if a possible wake condition exists from the other aircraft based on at least a portion of the received information and at least one predefined threshold and generates a wake icon if a wake condition is determined to exist. The wake condition exists when the ownship's altitude is below a first threshold altitude and above a second threshold altitude, wherein the first and second threshold altitudes are based on the other aircraft's altitude.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which ensures that static data entered into a communications device or apparatus is accurate, or at least consistent with data provided to an authentication service. In some embodiments of the invention, the authentication service may maintain a database of static data associated with each communications apparatus and/or verify the validity of at least a portion of the static data.

Abstract: A system for extending maritime domain awareness of participating vessels. The system includes a domain extension device installed on each of the vessels, the domain extension devices including at least one processor configured to receive own-ship radar track data from a navigational radar indicative of detectable targets located within a detection range of the radar, receive own-ship location values from a positioning device indicative of a geographical location of the vessel when the radar track data is generated, interface with a transceiver to receive other-ship radar track data and associated other-ship location values from one or more other participating vessels within a communication range of other-ship AIS transceivers, generate a common operating picture based upon the own-ship radar track data, own-ship location value, other-ship radar track data and other-ship location values.

Abstract: A system for extending maritime domain awareness of participating vessels. The system includes a domain extension device installed on each of the vessels, the domain extension devices including at least one processor configured to receive own-ship radar track data from a navigational radar indicative of detectable targets located within a detection range of the radar, receive own-ship location values from a positioning device indicative of a geographical location of the vessel when the radar track data is generated, interface with a transceiver to receive other-ship radar track data and associated other-ship location values from one or more other participating vessels within a communication range of other-ship AIS transceivers, generate a common operating picture based upon the own-ship radar track data, own-ship location value, other-ship radar track data and other-ship location values.

Abstract: The traffic control method according to the present invention includes obtaining radar information on a target from at least one radar; obtaining AIS information of the target from an AIS (automatic identification system) of the target; detecting GPS jamming; and fusing the radar information and the AIS information. The fusing selectively fuses the AIS information depending on whether the GPS jamming occurs in the position of the target as a result of the detection.

Abstract: A radar device is disclosed, which includes an antenna for transmitting an electromagnetic wave and receiving an echo signal from a target object while rotating in a horizontal plane, a display module for displaying the target object so as to correspond the echo signal to a position of the target object with respect to the antenna, a speed calculation module for calculating a relative velocity of the antenna and the target object, and a risk level detection module for detecting a risk level of the target object based on the relative velocity of the target object calculated by the speed calculation module. The speed calculation module calculates the relative velocity of the target object based on a change in phases of at least two of the echo signals received at a different time. The display module controls a display mode of the target object based on the risk level.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an image processing device, which includes a relative trail image memory for storing a relative trail data group indicating relative changes in position of a target object detected by echo signals obtained corresponding to detection signals transmitted while changing a transmitting azimuth direction, with respect to a transmitting position from which the detection signals are transmitted, and an approaching target object determination processing module for determining whether the target object detected with the detection signals is an approaching target object that approaches the transmitting position based on relative trail data existing on the same sweep line among the relative trail data group stored in the relative trail image memory.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus for managing tracking information using a unique ID in a Vessel Traffic System (VTS). In the method, a multi-sensor integration system issues a unique ID corresponding to a target, and sends a tracking command including the unique ID to radar tracking systems. The multi-sensor integration system receives first tracking information reports corresponding to the unique ID from the radar tracking systems. The multi-sensor integration system generates a second tracking information report by integrating the first tracking information reports using the unique ID. The multi-sensor integration system sends the second tracking information report to a system administrator so that information about tracking of the target is provided to the system administrator.