Ship Collision Avoidance Patents (Class 342/41)
  • Patent number: 11733374
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ACCIPITER RADAR TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Nohara
  • Patent number: 11681040
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Siren Marine, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Harper, Phillip King Gaynor, Dave Morschhauser
  • Patent number: 11676494
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SHIP AND OCEAN INDUSTRIES R&D CENTER
    Inventors: Feng-Yeang Chung, Chun-Han Chu, Chi-Min Liao, Mu-Hua Chen, Ling-Ji Mu, Li-Yuan Zhang, Sheng-Wei Huang
  • Patent number: 11630198
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: FLIR Belgium BVBA
    Inventors: Mark Rivers, Christopher Yeomans
  • Patent number: 11366214
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Woven Planet North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad Emadi, Jamaledin Izadian, Ali Mostajeran, Renyuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 11262449
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Goto, Hitoshi Maeno
  • Patent number: 11192498
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Inventor: Moran Sachko
  • Patent number: 11136097
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: BSS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: William C. Sandberg, Jason D. Geder, Marius Pruessner, Eric Wang
  • Patent number: 11099926
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Rachel Callison, Robert Brodeur, Robert Tappan
  • Patent number: 11100336
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: CUBIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: William A. Malkes, William S. Overstreet, Jeffery R. Price, Michael J. Tourville
  • Patent number: 10830907
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Maerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Anderson, Eric Meger, Brian Franklin
  • Patent number: 10756807
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Bryan D. Bagnall, Vladimir Matveyev, Sparta Cheung, John C. Stastny
  • Patent number: 10746552
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Hashizume, Keiichiro Bungo, Ryuichi Kimata
  • Patent number: 10706725
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Korean Institute of Ocean Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jin Hyoung Park, Hong Tae Kim, Han Jin Lee, Deuk Jae Cho, Jin Ki Jung, Jun Hyuk Jang
  • Patent number: 10514455
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Fujioka
  • Patent number: 10491797
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: SHANGHAI XIAOYI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chao He, Baoqi Wang, Tao Ma
  • Patent number: 10427770
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Inventor: Luke Guidry
  • Patent number: 10272977
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Hashizume, Ryuichi Kimata
  • Patent number: 10192449
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroko Suzuki, Takahiro Saito
  • Patent number: 10043371
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Francesco Fusco, Sean McKenna, Fearghal O'Donncha, Emanuele Ragnoli
  • Patent number: 10037701
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventor: Mark Harnett
  • Patent number: 9989635
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS PLC
    Inventor: Stephen Paul Noyes
  • Patent number: 9927540
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SERCEL
    Inventor: Fabien Chene
  • Patent number: 9779594
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Debra A. Rigdon, Timothy A. Tibbetts
  • Patent number: 9659501
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Byung-Gil Lee
  • Patent number: 9503867
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Calvin Gwoon Wong
  • Patent number: 9390531
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yugo Kubota, Yasuhisa Fujii
  • Patent number: 9256619
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventor: Richard W. Ely
  • Patent number: 9213087
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventor: Tina Erlandsson
  • Patent number: 9213090
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Inventor: Paolo Alberto Paoletti
  • Patent number: 9196044
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventor: Richard W. Ely
  • Patent number: 9175998
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Georgetown Rail Equipment Company
    Inventors: H. Lynn Turner, Nathan Bachman, William C. Shell, Brian Van Voorst, David Rozacky, Carlos Martinez, Charles W. Aaron, John Shackleton, Joel Scott Howard, Jonathan Paul Schewe
  • Patent number: 9135826
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventor: Baljeet Singh Malhotra
  • Patent number: 9086278
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Navionics Spa
    Inventor: Giuseppe Carnevali
  • Patent number: 9075145
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: RAYTHEON ANSCHUTZ GMBH
    Inventor: Carsten Reiter
  • Publication number: 20150061916
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Robert Longmuir Sinclair
  • Publication number: 20150054674
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Philip J. Ballou
  • Patent number: 8963764
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Gray, Jonathan A. Boardman
  • Publication number: 20150042505
    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).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Bjørn Hope
  • Patent number: 8949014
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Donald Bateman, Robert A. Champion, Ruy C. Brandao
  • Patent number: 8836570
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Canada Limited
    Inventors: Anthony M. Ponsford, Peter Scarlett, Gregory D. Westfall
  • Patent number: 8838985
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Vesper Marine Limited
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Robbins
  • Publication number: 20140210658
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: RAYTHEON CANADA LIMITED
    Inventor: Raytheon Canada Limited
  • Publication number: 20140111368
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Byung Gil LEE, Byung Doo KIM, Do Hyeung KIM, Joong Yong CHOI, Hyun Sook CHO
  • Patent number: 8665136
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kojima, Takumi Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 8665135
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Company Limited
    Inventor: Koji Dai
  • Publication number: 20140022107
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Byung-Doo KIM, Do-Hyeung KIM, Joong-Yong CHOI, Byung-Gil LEE
  • Patent number: 8612129
    Abstract: A marine threat monitoring and defense system and method protects a target vessel in icy or other marine regions. The system uses communications, user interfaces, and data sources to identify marine obstacles (e.g., icebergs, ice floes, pack ice, etc.) near a target vessel performing set operations (e.g., a stationed structure performing drilling or production operations or a seismic survey vessel performing exploration operations with a planned route). The system monitors positions of these identified marine obstacles over time relative to the target vessel and predicts any potential threats. When a threat is predicted, the system plans deployment of support vessels, beacons, and the like to respond to the threat. For example, the system can direct a support vessel to divert the path or break up ice threatening the target vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: ION Geophysical Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph R. Gagliardi, Des Flynn, John Grant
  • Patent number: 8583357
    Abstract: A target identification device in a user object includes: a user information obtaining part and a target information obtaining part obtaining a position, a speed over ground and a course over ground of the user object and a target object; a processor that calculates a CPA distance and a TCPA with respect to the target object relative and the user object, based on the positions, the speeds over ground and the courses over ground of the user object and the target object. The processor replaces the course over ground of the user object with a direction toward the target object and calculates the CPA and the TCPA when the speed over ground of the user object is a low speed determination value or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Icom Incorporated
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kita, Yukihiro Tokuyama
  • Publication number: 20130271309
    Abstract: A ship perimeter information display device is provided. The device includes a sensor information input unit connected with a sensor equipped in a first ship and for receiving an input of a detection result of the sensor, an AIS information input unit for receiving an input of VDO information that is a VHF data link own-ship message contained in AIS information transmitted from the first ship to a second ship, a display unit for displaying a situational image illustrating a situation around the first ship, and a control unit for displaying, on the display unit, information indicating a difference between first state information of the first ship obtained based on the detection result of the sensor and second state information of the first ship obtained based on the VDO information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kaida, Motoji Kondo, Katsuyuki Yanagi, Masahiro Nakahama