Coordinated route distribution systems and methods

• US 10,192,540 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2015
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flir Belgium BVBA (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Flir Belgium BVBA (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Clarke, Samuel B., Green, Thomas A., Crane, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Melton, Todd M
• Application Number:
  US14/983,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20160187140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/862 Combination of radar systems with sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/937 of marine craft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0027 involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0206 specially adapted to water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 3/02 Anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/26 Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide coordinated route distribution for one or more mobile structures. A coordinated route distribution system includes a route generator and/or distribution server and various route retrievers, each of which are used in conjunction with operation of corresponding coordinated mobile structures to retrieve routes from the route generator and/or distribution server. The route retriever includes and/or is configured to communicate with a logic device, a memory, one or more sensors, one or more actuators/controllers, and modules to interface with users, sensors, actuators, and/or other modules of a mobile structure. The logic device is adapted to receive the routes and/or directional data corresponding to the mobile structure and adjust a directional control signal provided to an actuator of the mobile structure accordingly. Portions of the routes and/or control signals are displayed or used to adjust steering actuators, propulsion system thrusts, and/or other operational systems.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a logic device configured to communicate with a user interface coupled to a mobile structure and optionally a controller for the mobile structure, wherein the logic device is adapted to;

retrieve route data for the mobile structure from a route distribution server over a network;

determine the route data for the mobile structure comprises a complete route;

indicate successful retrieval of the route data to the route distribution server; and

provide the route data to the user interface and optionally the controller for the mobile structure, wherein the providing the route data comprises;

translating the route data into a target heading and a first series of waypoints, corresponding to a first successfully retrieved route, that are displayed by the user interface and/or used by the controller to autopilot the mobile structure; and

translating the route data into a second series of waypoints corresponding to a second successfully retrieved route for at least one other mobile structure that is displayed by the user interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic device is adapted to:

access the route distribution server by identifying the mobile structure to the route distribution server prior to retrieving the route data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic device is adapted to:

access the route distribution server by authenticating the mobile structure to the route distribution server, through use of an email login and/or a username/password authentication methodology prior to retrieving the route data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic device is adapted to:

indicate successful retrieval of the route data by providing one or more email messages, text messages, data files, and/or data streams to the route distribution server.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the route data comprises a first unique identifier for the mobile structure and/or a second unique identifier for the other mobile structure that are displayed by the user interface; and

the first series of waypoints are displayed by the user interface and used by the controller to autopilot the mobile structure.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the route data includes routes for a plurality of other mobile structures, and wherein the logic device is configured to:

translate the route data into a plurality of series of waypoints corresponding to the routes for the plurality of other mobile structures that are displayed by the user interface coupled to the mobile structure.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the route data includes times and/or ranges of times associated with reaching each waypoint in the first series of waypoints; and

the system further comprises the controller configured to autopilot the mobile structure to reach each waypoint at the times or within the ranges of times using a steering sensor/actuator and/or a propulsion system for the mobile structure.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein for the provide the route data to the user interface and/or the controller, the logic device is adapted to:

translate the route data into the first series of waypoints and corresponding control parameters for an actuated device mounted to the mobile structure, wherein the controller is configured to control the actuated device in accordance with the control parameters as the mobile structure reaches the corresponding waypoints.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the mobile structure comprises a watercraft;

the actuated device comprises an actuated sonar system, an actuated spotlight, an actuated visible spectrum camera, and/or an actuated infrared camera; and

the control parameters comprise a relative or absolute orientation, a sweep rate, a sensor beam width, an acquisition rate, and/or a spectral content for the actuated device defined at each waypoint in the first series of waypoints.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic device is configured to:

access the route distribution server after the providing the route data to the user interface and/or the controller;

determine there is updated route data for the mobile structure on the route distribution server; and

retrieve the updated route data from the route distribution server.

11. A method comprising:

retrieving route data for a mobile structure from a route distribution server over a network;

determining the route data for the mobile structure comprises a complete route;

indicating successful retrieval of the route data to the route distribution server; and

providing the route data to a user interface and/or a controller for the mobile structure, wherein the providing the route data comprises;

translating the route data into a target heading and a first series of waypoints, corresponding to a first successfully retrieved route, that are displayed by the user interface and/or used by the controller to autopilot the mobile structure; and

translating the route data into a second series of waypoints corresponding to a second successfully retrieved route for at least one other mobile structure that is displayed by the user interface.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

accessing the route distribution server by identifying the mobile structure to the route distribution server prior to retrieving the route data.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

accessing the route distribution server by authenticating the mobile structure to the route distribution server, through use of an email login and/or a username/password authentication methodology prior to retrieving the route data.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

indicating successful retrieval of the route data by providing one or more email messages, text messages, data files, and/or data streams to the route distribution server.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the route data comprises a first unique identifier for the mobile structure and a second unique identifier for the other mobile structure that are displayed by the user interface; and

the first series of waypoints are displayed by the user interface and used by the controller to autopilot the mobile structure.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the route data includes routes for a plurality of other mobile structures, the method further comprising:

translating the route data into a plurality of series of waypoints corresponding to the routes for the plurality of other mobile structures that are displayed by the user interface coupled to the mobile structure.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the route data includes times and/or ranges of times associated with reaching each waypoint in the first series of waypoints; and

the controller is configured to autopilot the mobile structure to reach each waypoint at the times or within the ranges of times using a steering sensor/actuator and/or a propulsion system for the mobile structure.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the providing the route data to the user interface and/or the controller comprises:

translating the route data into the first series of waypoints and corresponding control parameters for an actuated device mounted to the mobile structure, wherein the controller is configured to control the actuated device in accordance with the control parameters as the mobile structure reaches the corresponding waypoints.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the actuated device comprises an actuated sonar system, an actuated spotlight, an actuated visible spectrum camera, and/or an actuated infrared camera; and

the control parameters comprise a relative or absolute orientation, a sweep rate, a sensor beam width, an acquisition rate, and/or a spectral content for the actuated device defined at each waypoint in the first series of waypoints.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

accessing the route distribution server after the providing the route data to the user interface and/or the controller;

determining there is updated route data for the mobile structure on the route distribution server; and

retrieving the updated route data from the route distribution server.