IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,566,436
Granted Patent B2
US 12,566,436 · App. 18/333,541 · Granted Mar 3, 2026

Maneuvering control devices for vessels, vessels

Inventors: Daisuke Nojiri (Saitama, JP); Takashi Hashizume (Saitama, JP); Yuichi Nakamura (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD; NIDEC ELESYS CORPORATION
G05D1/0206B63B79/10B63B79/40G01S13/89
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,566,436
App. No.
18/333,541
Granted
Mar 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A maneuvering control device for vessels, and vessels are provided, which recognize docks with high accuracy. A maneuvering control device 1 for a vessel 500 includes: a vessel self-position data acquisition unit P that acquires position data on itself; a radar device R arranged on a hull, the radar device receiving a reflected wave from an object of a radio wave transmitted around the hull; and a vessel-maneuvering data processing unit 100 that creates a map of around the hull and estimates a vessel self-position by using the position data acquired by the vessel self-position data acquisition unit P and data on the reflected wave received by the radar device R, in which the vessel-maneuvering data processing unit 100 creates a map by removing received values below a threshold from the data on the reflected wave.

Claims (30)

1 . A maneuvering control device for vessels, the device comprising:

a vessel self-position data acquirer that acquires position data on itself;

a radar device arranged on a hull, the radar device including a plurality of radar units each including a transmitter transmitting a radio wave around the hull and a receiver receiving a reflected wave from an object of a radio wave transmitted by the transmitter;

a processor that creates a map and estimates a vessel self-position by using the position data acquired by the vessel self-position data acquirer and data on the reflected wave received by the radar device; and

a receiving unit that receives a berthing instruction from a user,

wherein the processor removes data of received values below a threshold of a detection level from the data on the reflected wave, the data on the reflected wave including data of detection level of received value regarding amount of reflection of radio wave, and creates a map by using data on a reflected wave that has been detected a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period of time in a range that can be considered to be the same point, among the data on the reflected: wave, wherein

the receiving unit receives the berthing instruction including at least an instruction on a berthing side of the hull, and

wherein the processor decreases processing frequency of the radar units provided on a side opposite to the berthing side instructed in the berthing instruction.

2 . The maneuvering control device for vessels according to claim 1 ,

wherein the vessel self-position data acquirer includes an inertia measurer that measures an inertial system, and

wherein the processor estimates a vessel self-position by using a result of estimating a sway due to a disturbance by using a result of measurement by the inertia measurer.

3 . The maneuvering control device for vessels according to claim 1 ,

wherein transmission timings of at least adjacent radar units are out of synchronization.

4 . The maneuvering control device for vessels according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processor removes a reflected wave with an RCS value below a threshold to create a map, the processor calculating the RCS from the data on the reflected wave.

5 . The maneuvering control device for vessels according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processor estimates a dock in the map created, and executes processing of recognizing a berthable dock, based on a shape of the dock estimated.

6 . The maneuvering control device for vessels according to claim 5 ,

wherein, when the dock is estimated to have a U-shape including a walkway and two or more fingers where the vessels can berth at, a berthable vacant berth is extracted after detecting a vacant berth entrance.

7 . The maneuvering control device for vessels according to claim 5 ,

wherein, when the dock is estimated to include a berthable walkway, a berthable vacant berth is extracted without detecting a vacant berth entrance.

8 . A vessel, comprising:

a hull;

a vessel self-position data acquirer that acquires position data on itself;

a radar device arranged on the hull, the radar device including a plurality of radar units each including a transmitter transmitting a radio wave around the hull and a receiver receiving a reflected wave from an object of a radio wave transmitted by the transmitter;

a processor that creates a map and estimates a vessel self-position by using the position data acquired by the vessel self-position data acquirer and data on the reflected wave received by the radar device; and

a receiving unit that receives a berthing instruction from a user,

wherein the processor removes data of received values below a threshold of a detection level from the data on the reflected wave, the data on the reflected wave including data of detection level of received value regarding amount of reflection of radio wave, and creates a map by using data on a reflected wave that has been detected a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period of time in a range that can be considered to be the same point, among the data on the reflected wave, wherein

the receiving unit receives the berthing instruction including at least an instruction on a berthing side of the hull, and

wherein the processor decreases processing frequency of the radar units provided on a side opposite to the berthing side instructed in the berthing instruction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2023
From: NOJIRI, DAISUKE; HASHIZUME, TAKASHI; NAKAMURA, YUICHI
To: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.; NIDEC ELESYS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065708/0249 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240419168A1 · Dec 19, 2024
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