Vessel Routing System

• US 20130124088A1
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Bruce, Alan E., Chen, Henry, Nakamoto, Kyle, Gadler, Daniel J., Blanarik, Trevor C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,157,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/527
• 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: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/203 Specially adapted for sailing ships
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/00 Maritime or waterways transport

Abstract

A method and apparatus for routing a vessel from a start point to an end point. Routes are generated from the start point to the end point based on a number of objectives. A group of waypoints is added between the two waypoints with respect to the region of interest in response to a segment between two waypoints in a route in the routes crossing a region of interest.

Claims

1. A method for routing a vessel from a start point to an end point, the method comprising:

generating on a processor routes from the start point to the end point based on a number of objectives;

determining on the processor whether the routes include segments that pass through a region of interest;

responsive to a segment between two waypoints in a route in the routes crossing a region of interest, generating on the processor a first segment and a second segment, each of the first segment and the second segment providing a desired route with respect to the region of interest;

determining on the processor a predicted performance for the first segment and the second segment based on at least two of the number of objectives including arrival time and fuel usage; and

adding one of the first segment or the second segment to the route between the start point and the end point so as to add a group of waypoints between the two waypoints in the route with respect to the region of interest.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first segment and the second segment each includes a number of waypoint and a number of speeds between the waypoints.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first segment and the second segment each comprise a group of waypoints that form a path around the region of interest.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the region of interest is a land mass with a channel and wherein the group of waypoints forms a path through the channel, and further comprising identifying the land mass in a region of interest database.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein adding the group of waypoints between the two waypoints with respect to the region of interest comprises:

generating a plurality of groups of waypoints around the region of interest;

selecting the group of waypoints from the plurality of groups of waypoints based on the number of objectives to form a selected group of waypoints; and

adding the selected group of waypoints between the two waypoints.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the region of interest is a land mass with a channel and wherein adding the group of waypoints between the two waypoints with respect to the region of interest comprises:

generating a first group of waypoints through the channel;

adding the first group of waypoints between the two waypoints in the route;

generating a second group of waypoints around the land mass; and

adding the second group of waypoints between the two waypoints with respect to the region of interest based on the number of objectives in a copy of the route to form a new route.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the region of interest is selected from one of a land mass, a political boundary, and a hostile region.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the routes from the start point to the end point based on the number of objectives comprises:

generating initial routes from the start point to the end point; and

generating new routes from the initial routes, wherein the new routes are based on modifications to the initial routes.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the modifications comprise at least one of combining a portion of another route with the route, changing a number of speeds for segments in the route, and changing a series of waypoints in the route.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a number of routes in the routes as ones best meeting the number of objectives as a set of potential routes for the vessel.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

selecting the route for the vessel from the set of potential routes for the vessel.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of objectives further includes at least one of safety of the cargo, safety of the vessel, comfort, maintenance, detectability, and gas emissions.

5. (canceled)

14. A method for routing a vessel from a start point to an end point, the method comprising:

generating initial routes on a processor;

determining on the processor whether the routes include segments that pass through a region of interest;

generating new routes from the initial routes, wherein the new routes are based on modifications to the initial routes;

adding waypoints with respect to the region of interest to any of the new routes that cross the region of interest;

performing an evaluation on the processor of the new routes to generate values for a number of objectives for the new routes, the number of objectives including at least two objectives selected from lateness, fuel consumption, safety of the cargo, safety of the vessel, comfort, maintenance, detectability, and gas emissions; and

selecting a number of routes for the vessel from the new routes and any potential routes in a set of potential routes for inclusion in the set of potential routes based on the values for the number of objectives.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

prior to selecting the number of routes, determining whether a desired convergence has occurred for the new routes; and

performing the steps of using the set of potential routes as the initial routes, generating the new routes from the initial routes, wherein the new routes are based on the modifications to the initial routes;

adding the waypoints with respect to the region of interest to the any of the new routes that cross the region of interest; and

performing the evaluation using the new routes to generate values for a number of objectives for the new routes until the desired convergence has occurred.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the modifications comprise at least one of combining a portion of another route with the new routes, changing a number of speeds for segments in the new routes, and changing a series of waypoints in the new routes.

17. A vessel routing system comprising:

a route generation tool configured to generate routes from a start point to an end point based on a number of objectives and responsive to a segment between two waypoints in a route in the routes crossing a region of interest, add a group of waypoints between the two waypoints with respect to the region of interest;

a processor configured to generate a first segment and a second segment that provide a desired route for the region of interest;

a region of interest database that includes information regarding a number of regions of interest, the route generation tool receiving information from the region of interest database; and

a processor configured to evaluate a predicted performance for the first segment and the second segment based on at least two of the number of objectives including arrival time and fuel usage.

18. The vessel routing system of claim 17, wherein the group of waypoints forms a path around the region of interest.

19. The vessel routing system of claim 17, wherein the region of interest is a land mass with a channel and wherein the group of waypoints forms a path through the channel.

20. The vessel routing system of claim 17, wherein the region of interest is a land mass with a channel and wherein in being configured to add the group of waypoints between the two waypoints with respect to the region of interest, the route generation tool is configured to generate a first group of waypoints through the channel;

generate a second group of waypoints around the land mass;

select from between the first group of waypoints and the second group of waypoints based on the number of objectives to form a selected group of waypoints; and

add the selected group of waypoints between the two waypoints.

21. The vessel routing system of claim 17, wherein in being configured to add the group of waypoints between the two waypoints with respect to the region of interest, the route generation tool is configured to generate a plurality of groups of waypoints around the region of interest;

select the group of waypoints from the plurality of groups of waypoints based on the number of objectives to form a selected group of waypoints; and

add the selected group of waypoints between the two waypoints.

22. The vessel routing system of claim 17, wherein the region of interest is a land mass with a channel and wherein in being configured to add the group of waypoints between the two waypoints with respect to the region of interest, the route generation tool is configured to generate a first group of waypoints through the channel;

add the first group of waypoints between the two waypoints in the route; and

is further configured to generate a second group of waypoints around the land mass; and

add the second group of waypoints between the two waypoints with respect to the region of interest based on the number of objectives in a copy of the route to form a new route.

23. The vessel routing system of claim 17, wherein the region of interest is selected from one of a land mass, a political boundary, and a hostile region.