IP Library Granted Patent US 10,895,802
Granted Patent B1
US 10,895,802 · App. 16/991,905 · Granted Jan 19, 2021

Deep learning and intelligent sensing systems for port operations

Inventors: Thiru Vikram Suresh (Amherst, NY); Mohit Arvind Khakharia (Amherst, NY); Miguel Ojielong Chang Lee (Amherst, NY); Brian Huang (Amherst, NY); Trevor McDonough (Amherst, NY); Chris X Edwards (Amherst, NY)
Assignee: Buffalo Automation Group, Inc.
G03B17/561G01S7/02G01S13/86G01S13/865G01S13/867G01S17/89H04N5/23238H04N5/33
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,895,802
App. No.
16/991,905
Granted
Jan 19, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

A support structure includes a mounting pole and a mounting frame supported by the mounting pole. The mounting frame includes a vertical base and a horizontal arm projecting away from the vertical base in a first direction. The support structure further includes a first and second camera mount coupled to the vertical base, and a LIDAR mount and a radar mount coupled to the horizontal arm. An omnidirectional camera is coupled to the first camera mount and extends a first distance away from the mounting frame in a first direction that is perpendicular to the vertical base of the mounting frame. A thermal camera is coupled to the second camera mount and oriented in the first direction. A LIDAR unit is coupled to the LIDAR mount, and a radar unit is coupled to the radar mount.

Claims (45)

1. A support structure configured to be placed at or proximate to a port, the support structure comprising:

one or more mounting poles;

a mounting frame supported by the one or more mounting poles, the mounting frame comprising a vertical base and a horizontal arm projecting away from the vertical base in a first direction;

a first camera mount coupled to the vertical base of the mounting frame;

an omnidirectional camera coupled to the first camera mount and extending a first distance away from the mounting frame in a first direction that is perpendicular to the vertical base of the mounting frame;

a second camera mount coupled to the vertical base of the mounting frame;

a thermal camera coupled to the second camera mount and oriented in the first direction;

a LIDAR mount coupled to the horizontal arm of the mounting frame;

a LIDAR unit coupled to the LIDAR mount;

a radar mount coupled to the horizontal arm of the mounting frame and extending away from the mounting frame in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the vertical base of the mounting frame; and

a radar unit coupled to the radar mount.

2. The support structure of claim 1 , further comprising a compass and a compass mount configured to support the compass.

3. The support structure of claim 1 , further comprising a weather station and a weather station mount configured to support the weather station.

4. The support structure of claim 1 , further comprising a radio communications unit configured for line-of-sight communications with other support structures.

5. The support structure of claim 4 , wherein the radio communications unit is not enabled for non-line of sight communications.

6. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the thermal camera is proximate the LIDAR unit and the radar unit relative to the omnidirectional camera.

7. The support structure of claim 1 , further comprising a hardware processor configured to generate a three dimensional map based on data received from the omnidirectional camera, the thermal camera, the LIDAR unit, and the radar unit.

8. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the LIDAR unit is a first LIDAR unit, wherein the LIDAR unit is a first LIDAR mount, and wherein the support structure further comprises:

a second LIDAR mount coupled to the vertical base of the mounting frame; and

a second LIDAR unit coupled to the LIDAR mount and extending a second distance away from the mounting frame in the first direction.

9. The support structure of claim 8 , wherein a scanned area of the first LIDAR unit at least partially overlaps with a scanned area of the second LIDAR unit.

10. The support structure of claim 9 , wherein the first LIDAR unit has a first range and the second LIDAR unit has a second range, wherein the first range is substantially larger than the second range.

11. The support structure of claim 9 , wherein the first LIDAR unit is coupled to an upper portion of the mounting frame and the second LIDAR unit is coupled to a lower portion of the mounting frame such that the first LIDAR unit is positioned vertically higher than the second LIDAR unit.

12. The support structure of claim 9 , wherein the second LIDAR unit is a spherically scanning rotated LIDAR that concurrently rotates along two orthogonal axes.

13. A system for providing maritime navigation assistance, comprising:

a plurality of support structures spatially distributed in fixed locations at or proximate to a maritime port, each of the plurality of support structures comprising:

one or more mounting poles;

a mounting frame supported by the one or more mounting poles, the mounting frame comprising a vertical base and a horizontal arm projecting away from the vertical base in a first direction;

a first camera mount coupled to the vertical base of the mounting frame;

an omnidirectional camera coupled to the first camera mount and extending a first distance away from the mounting frame in the first direction that is perpendicular to the vertical base of the mounting frame;

a second camera mount coupled to the vertical base of the mounting frame;

a thermal camera coupled to the second camera mount and oriented in the first direction;

a LIDAR mount coupled to the horizontal arm of the mounting frame;

a LIDAR unit coupled to the LIDAR mount;

a radar mount coupled to the horizontal arm of the mounting frame and extending away from the mounting frame in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the vertical base of the mounting frame; and

a radar unit coupled to the radar mount.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of support structures further comprises a hardware processor configured to generate a three dimensional map based on data received from the omnidirectional camera, the thermal camera, the LIDAR unit, and the radar unit.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of support structures further comprises a compass and a compass mount configured to support the compass.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of support structures further comprises a weather station and a weather station mount configured to support the weather station.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of support structures further comprises a radio communications unit configured for line-of-sight communications with at least one other support structure of the plurality of support structures.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the LIDAR unit is a first LIDAR unit, wherein the LIDAR unit is a first LIDAR mount, and each of the plurality of support structures further comprises:

a second LIDAR mount coupled to the vertical base of the mounting frame; and

a second LIDAR unit coupled to the LIDAR mount and extending a second distance away from the mounting frame in the first direction.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the first LIDAR unit has a first range and the second LIDAR unit has a second range, wherein the first range is substantially larger than the second range.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the second LIDAR unit is a spherically scanning rotated LIDAR that concurrently rotates along two orthogonal axes, and wherein a scanned area of the first LIDAR unit at least partially overlaps with a scanned area of the second LIDAR unit.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2023
From: BUFFALO AUTOMATION GROUP, INC.
To: KNOBBE, MARTENS, OLSON & BEAR, LLP
Reel/Frame 064852/0635 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2020
From: SURESH, THIRU VIKRAM; KHAKHARIA, MOHIT ARVIND; CHANG LEE, MIGUEL OJIELONG; HUANG, BRIAN; MCDONOUGH, TREVOR; EDWARDS, CHRIS X.
To: BUFFALO AUTOMATION GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 053499/0952 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62885936 · Aug 13, 2019