IP Library Granted Patent US 10,746,553
Granted Patent B2
US 10,746,553 · App. 16/813,657 · Granted Aug 18, 2020

Interactive remote guidance system for seaborne vessels

Inventors: John Darius Robideaux (Lafayette, LA); Dickie Andrew Martin (Opelousas, LA); Stephen John Wesley Underwood (Beckenham, AU); Jacob Nicholas Stanley (Potts Point, AU)
Assignee: FUGRO CHANCE, INC.
G01C21/20B63B49/00G01S19/48G08C17/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,746,553
App. No.
16/813,657
Granted
Aug 18, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques for providing instructions to an operator of a sea vessel via a computing device are described. The computing device can request, from another computing device, instructions regarding one or more of an intended course and action plan for the sea vessel, which can include at least one navigational instruction and/or deployment instruction. The computing device can send data to a display device to cause a prompt to be displayed. The prompt can include options regarding the at least one instruction. The computing device can send state information of the sea vessel to the other computing device. The state information can include the received input and location information of the sea vessel. Additionally, data can be received by the computing device from a shore based operator and data can be sent to one or more clients on shore.

Claims (57)

1. An off-shore computing device for remote assistance of a sea vessel, the off-shore computing device comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the off-shore computing device to:

receive, from an on-shore computing device, action instructions for the sea vessel;

send data to be displayed at a display device, wherein the data includes information of the sea vessel and at least remote operated vehicle;

in response to a determination, based at least on part on the action instructions, that the at least one remote operated vehicle should be deployed from the sea vessel, transmit, to the on-shore computing device, a confirmation of deployment of the at least one remote operated vehicle;

receive status information from the remote operated vehicle; and

send the status information of the remote operated vehicle to the on-shore computing device.

2. The off-shore computing device of claim 1 , wherein the data includes information of at least one deployment device.

3. The off-shore computing device of claim 1 , wherein the action instructions include voice instructions.

4. The off-shore computing device of claim 1 , wherein the display device is located on the sea vessel.

5. The off-shore computing device of claim 1 , wherein the display device is located on- shore.

6. The off-shore computing device of claim 1 , wherein the display device is located at a control chamber of the at least one remote operated vehicle.

7. The off-shore computing device of claim 1 , wherein a connection between the off- shore computing device and on-shore computing device is at least in part a wireless connection.

8. The off-shore computing device of claim 7 , wherein the wireless connection is via one or more satellites.

9. The off-shore computing device of claim 1 , wherein a connection between the off- shore computing device and on-shore computing device is at least in part a wired connection.

10. The off-shore computing device of claim 1 , comprising further instructions which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the off-shore computing device to:

obtain survey data relating to a seafloor environment, the survey data including location information for one or more objects associated with the seafloor environment; and

receive, from the on-shore computing device, additional action instructions regarding an intended course and action plan for the sea vessel.

11. The off-shore computing device of claim 1 , comprising further instructions which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to:

obtain location information from at least one satellite system, the location information relating to a geographical position of the sea vessel; and

cause the geographical position of the sea vessel to be displayed on the display device.

12. The off-shore computing device of claim 1 , wherein the action instructions further cause the off-shore computing device to:

facilitate a request for updated action instructions from the on-shore computing device based upon updated information from at least one of the sea vessel or the at least one remote operated vehicle.

13. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by at least one processor of an off-shore computing device of a sea vessel, causes the at least one processor to:

receive, from an on-shore computing device, action instructions for the sea vessel;

send data to be displayed at a display device, wherein the data includes information of the sea vessel and at least one remote operated vehicle;

in response to a determination, based at least in part on the action instructions, that the at least one remote operated vehicle should be deployed from the sea vessel, transmit, to the on-shore computing device, a confirmation of deployment of the at least one remote operated vehicle;

receive status information from the at least one remote operated vehicle; and

send the status information of the at least one remote operated vehicle to the on- shore computing device.

14. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the data includes information of at least one deployment device.

15. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the action instructions include voice instructions.

16. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the display device is located on the sea vessel.

17. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the display device is located on-shore.

18. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the display device is located at a control chamber of the at least one remote operated vehicle.

19. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein a connection between the off-shore computing device and on-shore computing device is at least in part a wireless connection.

20. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the wireless connection is via one or more satellites.

21. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein a connection between the off-shore computing device and on-shore computing device is at least in part a wired connection.

22. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , comprising further instructions which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

obtain survey data relating to a seafloor environment, the survey data including location information for one or more objects associated with the seafloor environment; and

receive, from the on-shore computing device, additional action instructions regarding an intended course and action plan for the sea vessel.

23. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , comprising further instructions which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

obtain location information from at least one satellite system, the location information relating to a geographical position of the sea vessel; and

cause the geographical position of the sea vessel to be displayed on the display device.

24. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the action instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

facilitate a request for updated action instructions from the on-shore computing device based upon updated information from at least one of the sea vessel or the at least one remote operated vehicle.

25. A method for remote assistance of a sea vessel, the method comprising:

receiving, from an on-shore computing device, action instructions for the sea vessel;

sending data to be displayed at a display device, wherein the data includes information of the sea vessel and at least one remote operated vehicle;

in response to a determination, based at least in part on the action instructions, that the at least one remote operated vehicle should be deployed from the sea vessel, transmitting, to the on-shore computing device, a confirmation of deployment of the at least one remote operated vehicle;

receive status information from the at least one remote operated vehicle; and

send the status information of the at least one remote operated vehicle to the on- shore computing device.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the data includes information of at least one deployment device.

27. The off-shore computing device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one deployment device includes one or more anchors.

28. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the at least one deployment device includes one or more anchors.

29. The method of claim 26 , wherein the at least one deployment device includes one or more anchors.

30. The method of claim 25 , wherein the display device is located at a control chamber of the at least one remote operated vehicle.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 7, 2020
From: FUGRO CHANCE, INC.
To: FUGRO USA MARINE, INC.
Reel/Frame 053427/0638 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2020
From: ROBIDEAUX, JOHN DARIUS; MARTIN, DICKIE ANDREW; UNDERWOOD, STEPHEN JOHN WESLEY; STANLEY, JACOB NICHOLAS
To: FUGRO CHANCE, INC.
Reel/Frame 053150/0164 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 15682361 · Aug 21, 2017
Continuation 14914396
Provisional Application 62038491 · Aug 18, 2014
Provisional Application 61873574 · Sep 4, 2013
Provisional Application 61873330 · Sep 3, 2013
Provisional Application 61873331 · Sep 3, 2013
Related Publication 20200217664A1 · Jul 9, 2020