Vessel docking guidance system and method of use

• US 8,978,259 B1
• Filed: 02/13/2013
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samuel S. Stephenson Jr
• Original Assignee: Samuel S. Stephenson Jr
• Inventors: Stephenson, Samuel S. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, G. Bradley
• Application Number:
  US13/766,533
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 332/28, 332/63, 332/64, 332/86, 336/13, 336/45, 33D/IG.21
• US Class Current: 33/264
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2021/003 Mooring or anchoring equipment, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/203 Specially adapted for sailing ships
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications

Abstract

A laser guidance docking system utilizes a guidance laser to emit and direct a laser beam towards a dock upper surface. A target marking or reference is located on the dock upper surface. A laser illuminated marking is created at the contact point of the laser beam upon the dock upper surface. The target marking is located at a longitudinal position along a length of the dock upper surface, wherein the target marking provides a reference to properly position the vessel at a longitudinal position along the dock. The laser guidance docking system can be enhanced by integrated a camera, a vertical dimension measurement device, and a laser vertical angle reference device. Information regarding the positional relationship between the laser illuminated marking and the target marking can be presented on a remote video display. The system can include a computing device to adapt for a vertical offset of the laser.

Claims

1. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock, the method comprising steps of:

directing a guidance laser towards a dock, wherein the laser is located at a predetermined position on the vessel and the dock comprises one of;

an alignment marking,

a series of alignment markings, and

an alignment object;

determining a target marking, wherein the target marking is selected from one of the an alignment marking, the series of alignment markings, and the alignment object and the target marking is a reference location used in conjunction with a guidance laser illuminated point to position the vessel in the proper longitudinal position along the dock;

emitting a guidance laser beam from the guidance laser, wherein the guidance laser beam is directed in a generally downward direction; and

propelling the ship longitudinally along the dock until the guidance laser illuminated point generated by an end of a guidance laser beam generated by the guidance laser aligns with the target marking.

2. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock as recited in claim 1, the method further comprising a step of:

retaining the laser in a substantially vertical orientation.

3. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock as recited in claim 1, wherein the laser is pivotally attached to a laser supporting device and the method further comprising a step of:

retaining the laser in a substantially vertical orientation by utilizing a weight of the laser to draw the laser into the substantially vertical orientation.

4. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock as recited in claim 1, the method further comprising a step of:

calculating a horizontal offset of the illuminated point from the actual illuminated point to one that compensates for a vertical angular offset of the laser.

5. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock as recited in claim 1, the method further comprising a step of:

determining one of a vertical dimension between the laser and the upper surface of the dock and a longitudinal axial distance between the laser and the upper surface of the dock;

determining a laser angle respective to vertical;

calculating a horizontal offset of the illuminated point from the actual illuminated point to one that compensates for a vertical angular offset of the laser, wherein the calculations utilize the following;

one of a vertical dimension between the laser and the upper surface of the dock and a longitudinal axial distance between the laser and the upper surface of the dock, and

the laser angle respective to vertical; and

conveying the calculated horizontal offset to an individual.

6. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock as recited in claim 5, the method further comprising a step of:

determining a corrected laser illuminated point by adjusting the actual illuminated point by the calculated horizontal offset; and

presenting a representative image illustrating a relation between the corrected laser illuminated point and the target marking on a remote display.

7. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock as recited in claim 1, the method further comprising a step of:

obtaining a digital image of the laser illuminated marking and the target marking;

determining a vertical dimension between the laser and the upper surface of the dock;

calculating a horizontal distance between the target marking and the laser illuminated marking;

conveying the calculated distance between the target marking and the laser illuminated marking to an individual.

8. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock, the method comprising steps of:

directing a guidance laser towards a dock, wherein the laser is located at a predetermined position on the vessel and the dock comprises one of;

an alignment marking,

a series of alignment markings, and

an alignment object;

determining a target marking, wherein the target marking is selected from one of the an alignment marking, the series of alignment markings, and the alignment object and the target marking is a reference location used in conjunction with a guidance laser illuminated point to position the vessel in the proper longitudinal position along the dock;

emitting a guidance laser beam from the guidance laser, wherein the guidance laser beam is directed in a generally downward direction;

obtaining a digital image of the target marking and the guidance laser illuminated point;

displaying one of the following on a remote display;

the digital image of the target marking and the guidance laser illuminated point, and

a representation of the digital image of the target marking and the guidance laser illuminated point; and

propelling the ship longitudinally along the dock until the guidance laser illuminated point generated by an end of a guidance laser beam generated by the guidance laser aligns with the target marking.

9. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock as recited in claim 8, the method further comprising a step of:

retaining the laser in a substantially vertical orientation.

10. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock as recited in claim 8, wherein the laser is pivotally attached to a laser supporting device and the method further comprising a step of:

retaining the laser in a substantially vertical orientation by utilizing a weight of the laser to draw the laser into the substantially vertical orientation.

11. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock as recited in claim 8, the method further comprising a step of:

calculating a horizontal offset of the illuminated point from the actual illuminated point to one that compensates for a vertical angular offset of the laser.

12. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock as recited in claim 8, the method further comprising a step of:

determining one of a vertical dimension between the laser and the upper surface of the dock and a longitudinal axial distance between the laser and the upper surface of the dock;

determining a laser angle respective to vertical;

calculating a horizontal offset of the illuminated point from the actual illuminated point to one that compensates for a vertical angular offset of the laser, wherein the calculations utilize the following;

one of a vertical dimension between the laser and the upper surface of the dock and a longitudinal axial distance between the laser and the upper surface of the dock, and

the laser angle respective to vertical; and

conveying the calculated horizontal offset to an individual by presenting the information on the remote display.

13. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock as recited in claim 12, the method further comprising a step of:

determining a corrected laser illuminated point by adjusting the actual illuminated point by the calculated horizontal offset; and

presenting a representative image illustrating a relation between the corrected laser illuminated point and the target marking on the remote display.

14. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock as recited in claim 8, the method further comprising a step of:

determining a vertical dimension between the laser and the upper surface of the dock;

calculating a horizontal distance between the target marking and the laser illuminated marking;

presenting the calculated distance between the target marking and the laser illuminated marking on the remote display.

15. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock, the method comprising steps of:

positioning a guidance laser on a vessel in accordance with one of;

mounting the guidance laser extending outward from a side portion of a ship, and

locating the guidance laser above a transparent section of a bridge wing floor;

directing a guidance laser towards a dock, wherein the laser is located at a predetermined position on the vessel and the dock comprises one of;

an alignment marking,

a series of alignment markings, and

an alignment object;

determining a target marking, wherein the target marking is selected from one of the an alignment marking, the series of alignment markings, and the alignment object and the target marking is a reference location used in conjunction with a guidance laser illuminated point to position the vessel in the proper longitudinal position along the dock;

emitting a guidance laser beam from the guidance laser, wherein the guidance laser beam is directed in a generally downward direction; and

propelling the ship longitudinally along the dock until the guidance laser illuminated point generated by an end of a guidance laser beam generated by the guidance laser aligns with the target marking.

16. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock as recited in claim 15, the method further comprising a step of:

retaining the laser in a substantially vertical orientation.

17. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock as recited in claim 15, the method further comprising a step of:

calculating a horizontal offset of the illuminated point from the actual illuminated point to one that compensates for a vertical angular offset of the laser.

18. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock as recited in claim 15, the method further comprising a step of:

determining one of a vertical dimension between the laser and the upper surface of the dock and a longitudinal axial distance between the laser and the upper surface of the dock;

determining a laser angle respective to vertical;

calculating a horizontal offset of the illuminated point from the actual illuminated point to one that compensates for a vertical angular offset of the laser, wherein the calculations utilize the following;

one of a vertical dimension between the laser and the upper surface of the dock and a longitudinal axial distance between the laser and the upper surface of the dock, and

the laser angle respective to vertical; and

conveying the calculated horizontal offset to an individual.

19. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock as recited in claim 18, the method further comprising a step of:

determining a corrected laser illuminated point by adjusting the actual illuminated point by the calculated horizontal offset; and

presenting a representative image illustrating a relation between the corrected laser illuminated point and the target marking on a remote display.

20. A method of properly positioning a vessel longitudinally along a dock as recited in claim 15, the method further comprising a step of:

obtaining a digital image of the laser illuminated marking and the target marking;

determining a vertical dimension between the laser and the upper surface of the dock;

calculating a horizontal distance between the target marking and the laser illuminated marking;

conveying the calculated distance between the target marking and the laser illuminated marking to an individual.