Automation and platform management system for naval vessels

• US 7,099,755 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Mueller, Karl-Heinz, Schulze, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tan Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/448,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20040243859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 701/21, 701/36, 701/213, 340/984, 342/357.07, 342/41, 342/59
• US Class Current: 701/21
• 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: 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: H04L 12/40189 by using a plurality of bus systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4637 Interconnected ring systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40286 the transportation system being a waterborne vessel

Abstract

An automation and platform management system for navel vessels configured to be operated from a multimedia information and operation control center. This automation and management system has a system for monitoring and commanding the ship, a system for navigating the ship, a system for coordinating weapons deployment, a system for handling the external and internal radio communications, a system for controlling and handling the information distribution, a system for power generation and distribution (power management monitoring), and a system for monitoring ship operations. To be able further to reduce the number of crewmembers of a ship equipped with the automation and management system, the automation and management system further has a system for automated ship damage control and/or an integrated onboard information and data network (2) and/or an integrated system for monitoring and control of a COPAW drive of the ship.

Claims

1. An automation and platform management system for a vessel, operated from an operator island of a multimedia information and operation control center, comprising:

a system for monitoring and commanding the ship,

a system for navigating the ship,

a system for coordinating weapons deployment,

a system for handling the external and internal radio communications,

a system for controlling and handling information distribution,

a system for power generation and distribution,

a system for monitoring ship operations,

a system for automated ship damage control,

an integrated onboard information and data network, and

an integrated system for monitoring and controlling a combined pod and waterjet drive of the ship.

2. An automation and management system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an emergency control console for an automated ship support and command and control system.

3. An automation and management system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the emergency control console is arranged in a stern near a podded drive of the combined pod and waterjet drive.

4. An automation and management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the integrated onboard information and data network comprises intermeshed partial networks.

5. An automation and management system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an interface enabling operation of the support system from a land-based operating terminal.

6. An automation and management system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising sensors with built-in data preprocessing for detecting parameters.

7. An automation and management system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a bus device, and intelligent actuator units converting signals received via the bus device into values for actuating, respectively, the actuator units.

8. An automation and management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ship is subdivided into a plurality of ship protection zones, and wherein said system further comprises a respective central data collection unit for each of the ship protection zones.

9. An automation and management system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a system for monitoring and detecting crewmember locations, comprising at least one of wireless sensors, intelligent video camera systems, and contactless proximity detectors.

10. An automation and management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein data communication in the onboard information and data network is multiply redundant by meshing the network and by providing a high bandwidth for transmitting the information and the data.

11. An automation and management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operator island comprises at least two display units configured to be cross-operated via a keyboard and a trackball device, and headphones used to transmit alarm messages.

12. An automation and management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the onboard information and data network comprises a plurality of servers with a plurality of computers, one of the computers operating as a master and remaining ones of the computers operating in standby operation, wherein the computers operating in standby operation are continuously updated.

13. An automation and management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the onboard information and data network comprises independent partial systems, each of which is assigned a computer unit having a mode of operation independent of other computer units.

14. An automation and management system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising on-site control panels respectively assigned to the computer units.

15. An automation and management system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an interface configured to connect with a corresponding automation and management system of another ship.

16. An automation and management system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one of wired and wireless links to a higher-level management system of the onboard information and data network.

17. An automation and management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the onboard information and data network comprises an onboard Intranet providing entry and retrieval of information.