US 11,443,637 B2 · Proximity sensing system and method for a marine vessel

Abstract

A proximity sensor system on a marine vessel includes one or more proximity sensors, each at a sensor location on the marine vessel and configured to measure proximity of objects and generate proximity measurements. A processor is configured to store a two-dimensional vessel outline of the marine vessel with respect to a point of navigation for the marine vessel, receive the proximity measurements measured by one or more proximity sensors on the marine vessel, and identify four linearly-closest proximity measurements to the two-dimensional vessel outline, including one closest proximity measurement in each of a positive X direction, a negative X direction, a positive Y direction, and a negative Y direction. The processor then generates a most important object (MIO) dataset identifying the four linearly-closest proximity measurements.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A proximity sensor system on a marine vessel, the system comprising:

one or more proximity sensors, each at a sensor location on the marine vessel and configured to measure proximity of objects and generate proximity measurements;
a memory storing a two-dimensional vessel outline of the marine vessel with respect to a point of navigation for the marine vessel;
a processor configured to:
receive the proximity measurements measured by the one or more proximity sensors on the marine vessel;
from the received proximity measurements, identify four linearly-closest proximity measurements based on the two-dimensional vessel outline, including one closest proximity measurement in each of a positive X direction, a negative X direction, a positive Y direction, and a negative Y direction;
generate a most important object (MIO) dataset identifying the four linearly-closest proximity measurements;
and
wherein propulsion of the marine vessel is effectuated based at least in part on the MIO dataset.

5 more elements

A method of operating a proximity sensor system on a marine vessel, the method comprising:

defining a two-dimensional vessel outline of the marine vessel with respect to a point of navigation for the marine vessel;
storing the two-dimensional vessel outline of the marine vessel in a memory accessible to a processor;
receiving, at the processor, proximity measurements measured by one or more proximity sensors on the marine vessel;
translating, with the processor, the proximity measurements to a common reference frame with respect to the point of navigation for the marine vessel;
identifying from the received proximity measurements, with the processor, four linearly-closest proximity measurements to the two-dimensional vessel outline, including one closest proximity measurement in each of a positive X direction, a negative X direction, a positive Y direction, and a negative Y direction;
and
generating, with the processor, a most important object (MIO) dataset identifying the four linearly-closest proximity measurements.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Proximity sensing system and method for a marine vessel

Life of this patent

Proximity sensing system and method for a marine vessel

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20