A modern car is hard to imagine without the numerous electronic assistants. System adaptive cruise control (monitoring the distance to the vehicle ahead), holding lanes, pedestrian detection, traffic on the roads, snow and mountainous terrain. Finally, the automatic Parking system… a little More half-step — and there will be a “bright era of Autonomous driving”, as the joke of the automotive journalists.
It’s not fancy: Volkswagen has already shown Sedric (self-driving car) is the prototype of an unmanned vehicle, and Volvo Cars plans to 2021 to provide a fully Autonomous car and already agreed to supply thousands of such machines for robotic taxis.
Similar processes take place in the yachting industry. Manufacturers of vessels and equipment relentlessly invent and improve devices to facilitate the control and ownership of the boat. The goal is clear: to stimulate market demand. And this offers the latest and most accurate navigation devices, identification devices of ships and fish detection systems, automatic mooring…
It is in the latter direction and acted, FLIR Systems (USA), creating Raymarine DockSense — original electronic collision avoidance system of the boat with an obstacle when docking.
What is it?
Raymarine DockSense — automated system categories: Assisted Docking Technology (in other words — mooring assistant) for pleasure craft. This is the first, according to the developers, the solution with intelligent recognition of objects, including moving, designed to simplify mooring a boat in difficult conditions.
Why is it necessary?
Moored boats can be stressful even for experienced sailors. Often the wind and current complicate the task and the unsuccessful mooring can result in costly repairs, if not worse. System Raymarine DockSense designed to help the captain to avoid such collisions.
What devices are involved?
Raymarine DockSense uses GPS and AHRS (the system of determination of exchange direction) to compensate for the effect of wind and current when entering the vessel at the mooring site. The system includes five cameras FLIR (fixation to surrounding objects), a Central processing module (analysis of dynamic processes) and the application DockSense installed on the navigation display Axiom (Raymarine).
How does it work?
Raymarine DockSense uses “technological” Virtual Bumper area formed around the vessel. If this “virtual bumper” touches any object: the pile, the edge of the pier or another vessel — DockSense automatically submit a corrective command to the Executive mechanism (electronic engine control or steering wheel/column), to avoid touching the actual case and help the captain to smoothly and accurately guide the ship to the planned mooring site. Raymarine DockSense integrates with modern propulsion systems equipped with a joystick.
Who’s first?
Announced in January at the exhibition boot Düsseldorf its advanced system, the representatives of the FLIR/Raymarine has announced that the first vessel, which will be the Raymarine DockSense for testing and demonstration in new technologies, will become flybridge cruiser Fly 460 Prestige (Prestige Yachts, France), and the premiere will be held in mid-February at the Miami Boat Show.
Review MBY
Raymarine DockSense is not automatic mooring, but the assistant, similar to those used in modern cars. It also produces instrument measurement of distances and velocities with subsequent analysis and a signal control unit for the actuators. Because the key factor is safety, the captain must remain at the helm and control the process, especially the speed of approach to the mooring site, take into account the inertia of the vessel and the response time of the actuators.
