Systems and methods for tracking vessel activities are described. An exemplar method of tracking vessel activities includes:(i) receiving data, using one or more devices, including vessel positioning data and/or time associated with one or more vessels traversing one or more paths on a body of water; (ii) deducing, using the data received from step (i), vessel attributes of one or more the vessels at certain positions and/or time along one or more of the paths; (iii) identifying, based on the vessel attributes of step (ii), one or more types of vessel activities of one or more of the vessels at the certain positions along one or more of the paths; (iv) parsing an electronic map of the body of water and land surrounding the body of water into discrete geographic zones; (v) grouping one or more types of vessel activities being carried out in each of the discrete geographic zones to arrive at one or more types of grouped vessel activities; (vi) causing to display or displaying one or more types of the grouped vessel activities that are being carried out in at least some of the discrete geographic zones.

Systems and methods for operating a HAUCS sensing platform. The methods comprise: autonomous travel by a UAAV to a first location in proximity to a body of water (“BoW”) in accordance with a mission plan; actuating a mechanical device to transition a sensor from a retracted position in which the sensor is adjacent to a UAAV to an extended position in which the sensor resides a given distance from a UAAV; collect, by HAUCS sensing platform and sensor, sensor data concerning a water condition of BoW at different depths; actuating the mechanical device to transition the sensor from the extended position to the retracted position after the sensor data has been collected; causing the sensor data to be processed using a machine learning-based analytical engine to determine whether a water distress condition exists/is predicted to occur; and modifying the mission plan when the water distress condition exists/is predicted to occur.

Systems and methods for operating a HAUCS sensing platform. The methods comprise: autonomous travel by a UAAV to a first location in proximity to a body of water (“BoW”) in accordance with a mission plan; actuating a mechanical device to transition a sensor from a retracted position in which the sensor is adjacent to a UAAV to an extended position in which the sensor resides a given distance from a UAAV; collect, by HAUCS sensing platform and sensor, sensor data concerning a water condition of BoW at different depths; actuating the mechanical device to transition the sensor from the extended position to the retracted position after the sensor data has been collected; causing the sensor data to be processed using a machine learning-based analytical engine to determine whether a water distress condition exists/is predicted to occur; and modifying the mission plan when the water distress condition exists/is predicted to occur.

Apparatus and means are provided for elevating a video camera above the deck of a vessel in order to achieve a better and more distant view of objects below the surface of the water. The apparatus provides for allowing a video camera to be elevated, aimed in any horizontal direction, and further tilted from substantially straight down into the water to substantially straight up into the sky. The apparatus further provides for such a tower of fixed elevation or one which may be adjustable and elevation. Further it provides for either manual or remote adjustment of the horizontal direction, vertical tilt, elevation, or for the zoom or aperture of the video camera. It also provides for viewing the image either on one or more fixed video monitors or upon the screen of a computing device, such as a smart phone, tablet, or any form of computer which are adapted with any form of wireless, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Apparatus and means are provided for elevating a video camera above the deck of a vessel in order to achieve a better and more distant view of objects below the surface of the water. The apparatus provides for allowing a video camera to be elevated, aimed in any horizontal direction, and further tilted from substantially straight down into the water to substantially straight up into the sky. The apparatus further provides for such a tower of fixed elevation or one which may be adjustable and elevation. Further it provides for either manual or remote adjustment of the horizontal direction, vertical tilt, elevation, or for the zoom or aperture of the video camera. It also provides for viewing the image either on one or more fixed video monitors or upon the screen of a computing device, such as a smart phone, tablet, or any form of computer which are adapted with any form of wireless, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

A vessel includes a body, such as surfboard, that floats in water. One or more thrusters, and one or more sensors are provided on the body. A controller is configured to selectively activate the thrusters to cause the vessel to move along a path through the water, receive sensor data from the one or more sensors while the vessel is moving along the path, determine, based on the sensor data, whether a dangerous condition is present in the water; and output a warning when the dangerous condition is present in the water. For example, the collected sensor data may relate to locations and directions of currents in the water, the dangerous condition may relate to a rip current, and the warning may identify at least one attribute of the rip current. A map identifying a location of the dangerous condition may be generated and forwarded to other devices.

A vessel includes a body, such as surfboard, that floats in water. One or more thrusters, and one or more sensors are provided on the body. A controller is configured to selectively activate the thrusters to cause the vessel to move along a path through the water, receive sensor data from the one or more sensors while the vessel is moving along the path, determine, based on the sensor data, whether a dangerous condition is present in the water; and output a warning when the dangerous condition is present in the water. For example, the collected sensor data may relate to locations and directions of currents in the water, the dangerous condition may relate to a rip current, and the warning may identify at least one attribute of the rip current. A map identifying a location of the dangerous condition may be generated and forwarded to other devices.

The present invention belongs to the field of ship engineering, and provides a ship real wind measuring device calibration method. In this method a ship sway simulator is build using a 2-axis ganged platform, natural wind is simulating generated using a wind tunnel flow field. Then the ship sway simulator is controlled to simulate the ship spatial motion under the disturbance of stormy waves. Furthermore, the data of the wind speed and direction is obtained under different sway angles and speeds. So that the database of wind direction and speed measurement, attitude measurement, actual wind direction and speed measurement is formed. Subsequently, a calibration model based on BP neural network is constructed using this database, a ship real wind direction and speed calibration algorithm is formed, which can calibrate a ship real wind measuring device.

The present invention belongs to the field of ship engineering, and provides a ship real wind measuring device calibration method. In this method a ship sway simulator is build using a 2-axis ganged platform, natural wind is simulating generated using a wind tunnel flow field. Then the ship sway simulator is controlled to simulate the ship spatial motion under the disturbance of stormy waves. Furthermore, the data of the wind speed and direction is obtained under different sway angles and speeds. So that the database of wind direction and speed measurement, attitude measurement, actual wind direction and speed measurement is formed. Subsequently, a calibration model based on BP neural network is constructed using this database, a ship real wind direction and speed calibration algorithm is formed, which can calibrate a ship real wind measuring device.

An unmanned lifeboat 1 has a hull 2 with a transom opening 3, a fo'c'sle 4 closed by a rounded top deck 5, providing accommodation 6 for survivors. The aft deck as such is generally U-shaped with a cut-out 16 open at the transom 17, which is vestigial with two small port and starboard parts. Within the cut-out is a boarding assistance ramp 18. This is level with the aft deck at its forward end and slopes down to the transom. It extends aft of this by a few of feet—say about 1 m—to enable survivors to swim and crawl onto it.

For guidance to reach the vicinity of the survivors, the lifeboat is equipped with a communication apparatus including a receiver 32 for receiving survivor location data. In addition, the navigation apparatus with which the lifeboat is equipped includes a GPS system 33 of its own, a compass 34.