PROGRAMMABLE AUTOMATIC DOCKING SYSTEM

• US 20130297104A1
• Filed: 07/10/2013
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maid IP Holdings P/L
• Original Assignee: Bradley Tyers, Maxwell Tyers
• Inventors: Tyers, Maxwell, Tyers, Bradley
• Granted Patent: US 8,622,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/21
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2213/00 Navigational aids and use thereof, not otherwise provided for in this class
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 49/00 Arrangements of nautical instruments or navigational aids nautical measuring instruments G01C; radio navigation, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/10 using sensors, e.g. pressure sensors, strain gauges or accelerometers
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/40 for controlling the operation of vessels, e.g. monitoring their speed, routing or maintenance schedules
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2025/465 Jets or thrusters substantially used for steering or dynamic anchoring only, with means for retracting, or otherwise moving to a rest position outside the water flow around the hull
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/21 Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/22 the propulsion power units being controlled from exterior of engine room, e.g. from navigation bridge; Arrangements of order telegraphs
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 3/02 Anti-collision systems

Abstract

A programmable automatic docking system for a marine vessel, wherein the programmable automatic docking system includes a set of starboard side transducers and a set of port side transducers to detect and transmit real-time distance, position and velocity information of the marine vessel in relation to an external object,

A programmable processor control unit receives the real-time distance, position and velocity information to control a set of propulsion elements to automatically control the marine vessels direct path of travel toward an external object and maintain the marine vessel at a pre-selected distance once the pre-selected distance is reached.

Claims

1. A programmable automatic docking system for a marine vessel comprising:

a set of port side transducers, wherein the set of port side transducers further comprises;

a pair of distance sensing transducers located on a port fore side of the marine vessel;

a pair of distance sensing transducers located on a port aft side of the marine vessel; and

a lateral port side position transducer;

a set of starboard side transducers, wherein the set of starboard side transducers further comprises;

a pair of distance sensing transducers located on a starboard fore side of the marine vessel;

a pair of distance sensing transducers located on a starboard aft side of the marine vessel; and

a lateral starboard side position transducer;

a stern thruster;

a bow thruster;

a forward/reverse driver selector, wherein the forward/reverse driver selector works in conjunction with the stern thruster and the bow thruster;

a plurality of actuators, wherein the plurality of actuators control the forward/reverse drive selector;

a programmable processor control unit, wherein the programmable processor control unit further comprises an automatic processor operating in real-time to communicate and transmit a set of distance and velocity information provided by the set of port side transducers and the set of starboard side transducers to the bow thruster and the stern thruster;

a control panel, wherein the control panel further comprises;

an on button to activate the programmable automatic docking system;

an off button to de-activate the programmable automatic docking system;

a port button, wherein the port button activates the set of port side transducers to transmit a set of distance, position and velocity information of the marine vessel to the programmable processor control unit;

a starboard button, wherein the starboard button activates the set of port side transducers to transmit a set of distance, position and velocity information of the marine vessel to the programmable processor control unit;

a plus button;

a minus button, wherein the plus button and the minus button allow for a final pre-selected distance to be entered between the marine vessel and an external object;

a slip forward button;

a slip reverse button;

a buoy button;

a bow distance, velocity and position transducer located on a bow of the marine vessel; and

a stern distance, velocity and position transducer located on a stern of the marine vessel.

2. The programmable automatic docking system for a marine vessel of claim 1, wherein the set of port side transducers and the set of starboard side transducers provide distance, velocity and position information between five spaced locations on the port and starboard sides of the marine vessel.

3. The programmable automatic docking system for a marine vessel of claim 1, wherein each port side transducer detects and transmits a set of distance and velocity information relating to the distance between the port side of the marine vessel and an external object.

4. The programmable automatic docking system for a marine vessel of claim 1, wherein each starboard side transducer detects and transmits a set of distance and velocity information relating to the distance between the starboard side of the marine vessel and an external object.

5. The programmable automatic docking system for a marine vessel of claim 1, wherein the external object is selected from the group consisting of:

a dock, another marine vessel and other similar structure.

6. The programmable automatic docking system for a marine vessel of claim 1, wherein the lateral port side position transducer establishes a lateral position from the port side of the marine vessel in relation to a precise lateral reference point on a port external object.

7. The programmable automatic docking system for a marine vessel of claim 6, wherein the precise lateral reference point is a random reference point located at ninety degrees to the side of the marine vessel on the port external object.

8. The programmable automatic docking system for a marine vessel of claim 7, wherein the lateral port side position transducer transmits any lateral movement of the marine vessel to the programmable processor control unit.

9. A method for automatically docking a marine vessel at a starboard external object utilizing the programmable automatic docking system of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

bringing the marine vessel to a stop no more than sixty feet adjacent to an external object;

selecting an on button on a control panel;

activating a programmable processor control unit upon selection of the on button;

selecting a final pre-selected distance between the marine vessel and the external object;

selecting a starboard button on the control panel;

automatically transmitting to activate the set of starboard side transducers by the programmable processor control unit;

detecting a set of distance and velocity information by the set of starboard side transducers in relation to the starboard side of the marine vessel and the external object;

transmitting the set of distance and velocity information to the programmable processor control unit;

activating a bow thruster and a stern thruster simultaneously via electronic communication by the programmable processor control unit in response to the set of distance and velocity information previously transmitted;

automatically controlling the bow thruster and the stern thruster by the programmable processor control unit;

moving the marine vessel in a starboard direction towards the external object at a velocity of one foot every two seconds;

communicating with the bow thruster and the stern thruster by the programmable processor control unit to reduce the velocity of the marine once the marine vessel is within ten feet of the pre-selected distance from the external object;

detecting a precise lateral reference point on the external object by a starboard side lateral position transducer operating simultaneously and independent of the set of starboard transducers transmitting distance and velocity information to the programmable processor control unit;

transmitting the precise lateral reference point wirelessly to the programmable processor control unit;

memorizing the precise lateral reference point by the programmable processor control unit;

compensating automatically for any lateral movement of the marine vessel by the programmable processor control unit controlling a plurality of actuators in response to the lateral position information transmitted from the starboard lateral side position transducer;

engaging a forward/reverse drive selector by the plurality of actuators;

maintaining the marine vessel in a controlled lateral path of travel toward the precise lateral reference point;

engaging the bow thruster and stern thruster by the programmable processor control unit to stop the marine vessel once the pre-selected final distance is reached;

transmitting lateral position information of the marine vessel by the starboard lateral side position transducer to maintain the lateral position of the marine vessel after it has reached the pre-selected final distance; and

maintaining the pre-selected final distance from the external object indefinitely while the programmable automatic docking system is in operation.

10. A method for automatically docking a marine vessel at a port external object utilizing the programmable automatic docking system of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

bringing the marine vessel to a stop no more than sixty feet adjacent to an external object;

selecting an on button on a control panel;

activating a programmable processor control unit upon selection of the on button;

selecting a final pre-selected distance between the marine vessel and the external object;

selecting a port button on the control panel;

automatically transmitting to activate the set of port side transducers by the programmable processor control unit;

detecting a set of distance and velocity information by the set of port side transducers in relation to the port side of the marine vessel and the external object;

transmitting the set of distance and velocity information to the programmable processor control unit;

activating a bow thruster and a stern thruster simultaneously via electronic communication by the programmable processor control unit in response to the set of distance and velocity information previously transmitted;

automatically controlling the bow thruster and the stern thruster by the programmable processor control unit;

moving the marine vessel in a port direction towards the external object at a velocity of one foot every two seconds;

communicating with the bow thruster and the stern thruster by the programmable processor control unit to reduce the velocity of the marine once the marine vessel is within ten feet of the pre-selected distance from the external object;

detecting a precise lateral reference point on the external object by a port side lateral position transducer operating simultaneously and independent of the set of port side transducers transmitting distance and velocity information to the programmable processor control unit;

transmitting the precise lateral reference point wirelessly to the programmable processor control unit;

memorizing the precise lateral reference point by the programmable processor control unit;

compensating automatically for any lateral movement of the marine vessel by the programmable processor control unit controlling a plurality of actuators in response to the lateral position information transmitted from the port side lateral position transducer;

engaging a forward/reverse drive selector by the plurality of actuators;

maintaining the marine vessel in a controlled lateral path of travel toward the precise lateral reference point;

engaging the bow thruster and stern thruster by the programmable processor control unit to stop the marine vessel once the pre-selected final distance is reached;

transmitting lateral position information of the marine vessel by the port side lateral position transducer to maintain the lateral position of the marine vessel after it has reached the pre-selected final distance; and

maintaining the pre-selected final distance from the external object indefinitely while the programmable automatic docking system is in operation.

11. A method for collision avoidance between a marine vessel and an external object utilizing the programmable automatic docking system of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

engaging a forward/reverse drive selector;

selecting an on button on a control panel;

activating a programmable processor control unit upon selection of the on button;

transmitting to activate a bow distance, velocity and position transducer by the programmable processor control unit;

detecting real-time distance and velocity information between a bow of the marine vessel and the external object by the bow distance, velocity and position transducer following activation;

transmitting the real-time distance and velocity information from the bow distance, velocity and position transducer;

controlling the forward/reverse drive selector by a plurality of actuators in electronic communication with the programmable processor control unit;

maintaining a velocity of the marine vessel at five knots;

detecting the external object at no more than one hundred feet away from the marine vessel by the bow distance, velocity and position transducer;

reducing the velocity of the marine vessel to six hundredths knots per foot upon detecting of the external object at no more than one hundred feet away from the marine vessel;

detecting a distance of twenty feet between the marine vessel and the external object;

stopping the marine vessel twenty feet from the external object; and

maintaining the position of the marine vessel twenty feet from the external object while the programmable automatic docking system is in operation.

12. A method for docking a marine vessel upon a bow of the marine vessel entering a slip, utilizing the programmable automatic docking system of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a slip forward button on a control panel;

activating a programmable processor control unit to operate in slip forward mode;

selecting a starboard button on a control panel;

automatically transmitting to activate a set of starboard side transducers and a bow distance, velocity and position transducers;

transmitting real-time distance and velocity information between the bow of the marine vessel and a dock from the bow distance, velocity and position transducer to the programmable processor control unit;

engaging the forward/reverse drive selector by a plurality of actuators in communication with the programmable processor control unit;

maintaining a velocity of two knots of the marine vessel through the forward/reverse drive selector;

transmitting real-time distance and velocity information between the set of starboard side transducers between the starboard side of the marine vessel and a slip walkway;

maintaining a distance of two feet between the starboard side of the marine vessel and the slip walkway;

engaging the bow thruster and stern thruster in response to the real-time distance and velocity information from the set of starboard side transducers to maintain a distance of two feet between the starboard side of the marine vessel and the slip walkway;

detecting a distance of three feet between the bow of the marine vessel and the dock;

stopping the bow of the marine vessel three feet from the dock; and

maintaining the position of the marine vessel while the programmable automatic docking system is in operation.

13. A method for automatically location a buoy/floating mooring for a marine vessel, utilizing the programmable automatic docking system of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

bringing a bow of a marine vessel into alignment with the buoy/floating mooring at a distance of two hundred feet directly forward of the bow of the marine vessel;

selecting a buoy button on a control panel, which activates a programmable processor control unit;

transmitting to activate the bow distance, velocity and position transducer;

detecting real-time distance, location and velocity information in relation to the bow of the marine vessel and the buoy/floating mooring;

transmitting the real-time distance, location and velocity information of the bow of the marine vessel in relation to the buoy/floating mooring to the programmable processor control unit;

communicating electronically with the plurality of actuators by the programmable processor control unit;

engaging the forward/reverse drive selector by the plurality of actuators to maintain a forward velocity of two knots for the marine vessel;

maintaining the marine vessel in a direct path of travel towards the buoy/floating mooring by the programmable processor control unit engaging the bow thruster in response to the real-time distance, location and velocity information from the bow distance, velocity and position transducer;

stopping the bow of the marine vessel three feet from the buoy/floating mooring; and

maintaining the position of the marine vessel while the programmable automatic docking system is in operation.

14. A method for automatically controlling a marine vessel'"'"'s departure from a starboard external object, utilizing the programmable automatic docking system of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting an on button on a control panel;

activating a programmable processor control unit upon selection of the on button;

inputting a pre-selected distance to move the marine vessel away from the external object;

selecting a starboard button on the control panel to move marine vessel away from a starboard external object;

activating the set of starboard side transducers by the programmable processor control unit;

activating a bow thruster and a stern thruster simultaneously via electronic communication by the programmable processor control unit in response to the set of distance and velocity information previously transmitted;

detecting a set of distance and velocity information by set of starboard side transducers in relation to the starboard side of the marine vessel and the external object;

transmitting the set of distance and velocity information to the programmable processor control unit;

moving the marine vessel away from the starboard external object at a velocity of one foot every two seconds;

communicating with the bow thruster and the stern thruster by the programmable processor control unit to reduce the velocity of the marine vessel by three hundredths knots per foot of travel once the marine vessel is within ten feet of the pre-selected distance away from external object;

detecting a precise lateral reference point on the external object by a starboard side lateral position transducer operating simultaneously and independent of the set of starboard transducers transmitting distance and velocity information to the programmable processor control unit;

transmitting a precise lateral reference point wirelessly to the programmable processor control unit;

memorizing the precise lateral reference point by the programmable processor control unit;

compensating automatically for any lateral movement of the marine vessel by the programmable processor control unit controlling a plurality of actuators in response to the lateral position information transmitted from the starboard lateral side position transducer;

engaging a forward/reverse drive selector by the plurality of actuators;

maintaining the marine vessel in a controlled lateral path of travel away from the precise lateral reference point;

engaging the bow thruster and stern thruster by the programmable processor control unit to stop the marine vessel once the pre-selected final distance is reached;

transmitting lateral position information of the marine vessel by the starboard lateral side position transducer to maintain the lateral position of the marine vessel after it has reached the pre-selected distance away from the external object; and

maintaining the pre-selected distance from the external object indefinitely while the programmable automatic docking system is in operation.