Variable turn radius for marine vessels
View Patent ↗Operation of a marine vessel is disclosed. A marine vessel may be operated so as to determine that an end of a first sail line is approaching. Once determined, a turn path from the end of the first sail line to the beginning of a second sail line may be determined. The turn path may be determined based on at least one of current direction and current magnitude.
1. A method for operating a marine vessel comprising: determining, via at least one processor, that an end of a first sail line is approaching; and determining, via the at least one processor, a turn path from the end of the first sail line to a beginning of a second sail line, wherein the turn path is dynamically determined based on at least one of current direction and current magnitude; while traversing on a turn path, monitoring, via the at least one processor, one or more sensors to determine whether sensor readings are within an acceptable limit; and if the sensor readings are not within acceptable limits, adjusting, via the at least one processor, the previously determined turn path.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the marine vessel is a seismic data acquisition vessel configured to tow an array of seismic streamer cables.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the turn path comprises at least a first section based on a first turn radius and a second section based on a second turn radius.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensors are configured to measure at least one of: speed of a diverter; tension in one or more cable towing arrangements; and a shape of the cable towing arrangement.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising periodically measuring, via the at least one processor, the current direction and current magnitude while traversing the turn path, and adjusting, via the at least one processor, the turn path upon identifying a change in at least one of the current direction and current magnitude.
6. A method for turning a marine vessel from a first sail line to a second sail line, comprising: determining, via at least one processor, a first path based on a first turn radius; while traversing on the first path, determining, via the at least one processor, at least one of a current direction and current magnitude; and based on the determined at least one of the current direction and current magnitude, adjusting, via the at least one processor, to a second path based on a second turn radius; while traversing on the turn path, monitoring, via the at least one processor, one or more sensors to determine whether sensor readings are within an acceptable limit; and if the sensor readings are not within acceptable limits, adjusting, via the at least one processor, the previously determined turn path.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the marine vessel is a seismic data acquisition vessel configured to tow an array of seismic streamer cables.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the sensors are configured to measure at least one of: speed of a diverter; tension in one or more cable towing arrangements; and a shape of the cable towing arrangement.
9. A non-transient computer readable storage medium comprising a computer program product which, when executed by a processor, is configured to perform operations, comprising: determining that a marine vessel is approaching an end of a first sail line; and determining a turn path from the end of the first sail line to a beginning of a second sail line, wherein the turn path is dynamically determined based on at least one of current direction and current magnitude; while traversing on the turn path, monitoring one or more sensors to determine whether sensor readings are within an acceptable limit; and if the sensor readings are not within acceptable limits, adjusting the previously determined turn path.
10. The non-transient computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the marine vessel is a seismic data acquisition vessel configured to tow an array of seismic streamer cables.
11. The non-transient computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the turn path comprises at least a first section based on a first turn radius and a second section based on a second turn radius.
12. The non-transient computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the sensors are configured to measure at least one of: speed of a diverter; tension in one or more cable towing arrangements; and a shape of the cable towing arrangement.