Collision avoidance method and system
First Claim
1. A method for avoiding collisions of a ship having a rudder and a rudder control, comprising:
- monitoring a rudder control of a ship, the rudder control normally being regularly adjusted by an operator, a time period beginning with an adjustment of the rudder control and ending with a subsequent adjustment, if any, to the rudder control defining an inactivity time period; and
activating a first alarm if an inactivity time period is greater than a predetermined first time period, the predetermined first lime period being sufficiently short such that an appropriate party is alerted to take action to prevent a collision of the ship once the rudder has not been adjusted for the predetermined period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a vehicular collision avoidance method is provided that includes monitoring a control of a vehicle and activating a first alarm if the control is not adjusted in a sufficient amount of time. The monitored control is normally and regularly adjusted by the vehicle'"'"'s operator such that the time between adjustments is sufficiently smaller than the time normally needed to avoid a collision after it is detected that the control is no longer being controlled. The first alarm is activated if it is determined that the control is not adjusted in a sufficiently small amount of time from its preceding adjustment. Thus, the vehicle'"'"'s operator or other vehicle member can react and take measures to ensure that the vehicle is under suitable control upon activation of the alarm and thereby avoid a possible collision.
21 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for avoiding collisions of a ship having a rudder and a rudder control, comprising:
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monitoring a rudder control of a ship, the rudder control normally being regularly adjusted by an operator, a time period beginning with an adjustment of the rudder control and ending with a subsequent adjustment, if any, to the rudder control defining an inactivity time period; and activating a first alarm if an inactivity time period is greater than a predetermined first time period, the predetermined first lime period being sufficiently short such that an appropriate party is alerted to take action to prevent a collision of the ship once the rudder has not been adjusted for the predetermined period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A collision avoidance system for a ship having a rudder and a rudder control, comprising:
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a sensor for monitoring a ship rudder control, the sensor providing a signal indicating when the ship rudder control is adjusted; and a first timer connected to said sensor to receive the provided signal, the timer activating a first alarm if from the provided signal it determines that an excessive amount of time elapses without the ship rudder control being adjusted. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A collision avoidance system for a tug having a rudder and a steering system to control the rudder, comprising:
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a sensor communicatively linked to the steering system for monitoring adjustment of the rudder, the sensor generating a signal indicative of whether the rudder is adjusted; a first timer connected to said sensor to receive the generated signal, the first timer activating a first alarm if from the signal it is determined that a first preset amount of time elapses without the rudder being adjusted. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for avoiding collisions of a ship having a rudder and a rudder control, comprising:
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monitoring a rudder control of a ship, the rudder control normally being regularly adjusted by an operator, a time period beginning with an adjustment of the rudder control and ending with a subsequent operator action defining an inactivity tine period; and activating a first alarm if the inactivity time period is greater than a predetermined first time period, the predetermined first time period being sufficiently short that an appropriate party is alerted to take action to prevent a collision of the ship once the rudder has not been adjusted for the predetermined first time period. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A collision avoidance system for a tug having a steering system, comprising:
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a sensor communicatively, linked to the steering system for monitoring adjustment of the steering system of the tug, the sensor generating a signal indicative of whether the steering system is adjusted; and a first timer connected to said sensor to receive the generated signal, the first timer activating a first alarm if from the signal it is determined that a first preset amount of time elapses without an operator taking an action. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification