MAN OVER BOARD DETECTION SYSTEM

Abstract

A Man Over Board (MOB) system includes sensor units located around a periphery of a vessel, an interconnector unit communicatively coupled with the plurality of sensor units and configured to receive data from the sensors, a data fusion processing unit, and a control station. The data fusion processing unit is configured to receive the data from the sensor units via the interconnector unit, compile the data from the sensor units, and trigger a MOB warning based on the compiled data. The control station is located at a bridge of the vessel and configured to display the MOB warning and at least a portion of the compiled data from the sensor units via a video verification interface and receive verification input from a human operator via the video verification interface to confirm a MOB event.

Claims

1-50. (canceled)

51. A man over board (MOB) detection system, comprising: a plurality of sensor units located around a periphery of a vessel; an interconnector unit communicatively coupled with the plurality of sensor units and configured to receive data from the plurality of sensor units; a data fusion processing unit configured to receive the data from the plurality of sensor units via the interconnector unit, compile the data from the plurality of sensor units, and trigger a MOB warning based on the compiled data; a control station located at a bridge of the vessel and configured to display the MOB warning and at least a portion of the compiled data from the plurality of sensor units via a video verification interface and receive verification input from a human operator via the video verification interface to confirm a MOB event.

52. The MOB detection system of claim 51, wherein the plurality of sensor units comprises one or more of: a laser scanner or a radar alarm, and wherein the data fusion processing unit triggers the MOB warning based at least in part on the laser scanner or the radar alarm.

53. The MOB detection system of claim 52, wherein at least the portion of the compiled data from the plurality of sensor units comprises video pre-processing data that augments the MOB warning triggered by the laser scanner of the radar alarm.

54. The MOB detection system of claim 51, wherein the control station is further configured to display the MOB warning as a visual alarm that remains active until the verification input is received from the human operator.

55. The MOB detection system of claim 51, wherein the control station is further configured to sound an audible alarm in response to the MOB event, wherein the audible alarm remains active until the verification input is received from the human operator.

56. The MOB detection system of claim 51, wherein the plurality of sensor units are connected to the interconnector unit via one or more of: fiber optical cabling, ethernet cabling, wireless connectivity, or a combination thereof.

57. The MOB detection system of claim 51, wherein one or more sensor units of the plurality of sensor units are configured to execute embedded local code for first stage object detection, and wherein the MOB warning is triggered based at least in part on the first stage object detection.

58. The MOB detection system of claim 57, wherein the plurality of sensor units is distributed around the periphery of the vessel such that the plurality of sensor units is configured to detect a human within a MOB detection zone defined as a fixed distance from the periphery of the vessel.

59. The MOB detection system of claim 58, wherein the plurality of sensor units comprises a laser scanner unit configured to perform the first stage object detection by detecting an object of a specified size falling in the MOB detection zone with an acceleration equivalent to gravity.

60. The MOB detection system of claim 51, wherein the control station and the data fusion processing unit are further configured, upon receiving the verification input, to generate a message in National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) format based at least in part on the MOB event.

61. A method of man over board (MOB) detection, comprising: obtaining data from a plurality of sensor units located around a periphery of a vessel; compiling the data from the plurality of sensor units at a data fusion processing unit configured; analyzing the compiled data from the plurality of sensor units at the data fusion processing unit to trigger a MOB warning; displaying the MOB warning and at least a portion of the compiled data at a control station located at a bridge of the vessel via a video verification interface; and receive verification input from a human operator via the video verification interface to confirm a MOB event.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the plurality of sensor units comprises one or more of: a laser scanner or a radar alarm, and wherein the MOB warning is triggered based at least in part on the laser scanner or the radar alarm.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein at least the portion of the compiled data from the plurality of sensor units comprises video pre-processing data that augments the MOB warning triggered by the laser scanner of the radar alarm.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein displaying the MOB warning comprises: displaying a visual alarm that remains active until the verification input is received from the human operator.

65. The method of claim 61, further comprising: sounding an audible alarm in response to the MOB event, wherein the audible alarm remains active until the verification input is received from the human operator.

66. The method of claim 61, wherein obtaining the data from the plurality of sensor units comprises: receiving the data at the data fusion processing unit via an interconnector unit, wherein the data is received via one or more of: fiber optical cabling, ethernet cabling, wireless connectivity, or a combination thereof.

67. The method of claim 61, further comprising: performing a first stage object detection at one or more sensor units of the plurality of sensor units, wherein the MOB warning is triggered based at least in part on the first stage object detection.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the plurality of sensor units is distributed around the periphery of the vessel such that the plurality of sensor units is configured to detect a human within a MOB detection zone defined as a fixed distance from the periphery of the vessel.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the plurality of sensor units comprises a laser scanner unit, and wherein performing the first stage object detection comprises by using the laser scanner unit to detect an object of a specified size falling in the MOB detection zone with an acceleration equivalent to gravity.

70. The method of claim 61, further comprising: generating a message in National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) format based at least in part on the MOB event upon receiving the verification input.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram representation of an illustrative MOB detection system in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram representation of an illustrative control station for a MOB detection system in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

[0061] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram representation of interconnected sensor units in a MOB detection system in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram representation of an illustrative MOB detection system in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

[0063] The example shown in FIG. 1 represents the general physical configuration of the Man Over Board detection system. The overall shape represents the vessel 101A, while the dotted-line squares represent parts of the vessel 101A. The regular boxes in the drawing represent physical units. The straight lines represent physical cables, while the dashed lines represent the location of the physical units within the different parts of the vessel. The circles represent the integrated software, whereas the dashed arrows show to which physical unit the software is integrated to. Lastly, the straight-line arrow indicates the cables used for the Man Over Board detection system.

[0064] An instrument room of the vessel 101A may be near a bridge 101C of the vessel 101A. 102A-102F represent the general configuration of the sensor units 102 that cover the periphery of the vessel, and any sensor unit 102 can be a multibeam laser scanner unit, networked radar unit or a video camera unit, allowing adjustability in the configuration as long as the periphery is covered. Each sensor unit 102 also contains the option for embedded local software for first stage object detection and situation awareness. The sensor units 102 are connected through fibre optical or ethernet cabling (with the option also for wireless connectivity) 103 between the sensor units 102 and the vessel 101A, but also acts as local power supply that is integrated as part of the communications cables between the sensor units and control station located at the vessel's bridge 101C. The sensors units 102 are all connected into an interconnector unit 104 (104) which is located at the vessel's instrument room 101B. The data that are transferred are processed in the data fusion processing unit 105 located at the vessel's instrument room 101B. Within the data fusion processing unit there is integrated a video verification software and central data fusion software including MOB detection software 106. The control station 107 of an alarm system with a display unit and visual alarm capabilities is located at the vessel's bridge 101C, and has an integrated software for administrative functions and Human Machine Interface (HMI) software 108.

[0065] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram representation of an illustrative control station for a MOB detection system in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. A control station 301 with display may be located at the vessel's bridge and allows authorised system users to acknowledge, deny, or confirm a MOB warning or alarm at the control station. The resolution of the MOB verification data in still or video images may be sufficient to allow for a human operator to distinguish between some human and other objects at the maximum range of the MOB detection system.

[0066] The system monitors the operational status of the system and displays the activation state (active or inactive) of all system sensors and the functional state (normal or malfunction) of all system sensors at power up, reset, or change of system status. Access to the control station 301 may be restricted to users with the appropriate credentials.

[0067] The system has the capacity to store the required system data for a minimum of 30 days. It is possible for an advanced user to set a data retention policy for the system and once data exceeds the data retention policy duration then it may be automatically destroyed. The data retention policy does not conflict with the 30-day minimum storage capability.

[0068] Software 302 implemented within the control station 301 has MOB administrative functions, including different types of user accounts on the system, record all the required system data while the system is in an active state (operational status of the system; operational status of each sensor unit; data captured from each sensor unit ; any active MOB alarm logs; MOB log entries; and security log), testing information log and for each system event: the user that initiated the event, the type of the event, and the date and time associated with the event may be recorded.

[0069] In the case of a data export event, a description sufficient to describe the data that was exported from the system is also being recorded.

[0070] In the case of a software upgrade event, the new software version is also being recorded.

[0071] In the case of a system setting change event, both the old and new settings will be recorded. If the system automatically adjusts the detection settings at a frequency greater than once an hour, a lookup table or report that describes how the settings are applied can be supplied in lieu of the detection setting change event log entries.

[0072] A data interface unit 303 may push the MOB alarms and make available the MOB verification data, in the form of still or video images, to a human operator within five seconds of a MOB warning and allow a human operator to control the playback of available MOB verification data. The system may have the capability for an operator to manually select an imaging sensor and timeline for playback at the control station. The electronics unit is connected via cable or wireless means to the sensor units.

[0073] A light emitting alarm function 304A and an audible alarm function 304B of the MOB detection system may be controlled by the control station. The intensity of light emitting system components of the light emitting alarm function 304A located or installed in the bridge area is fully dimmable and capable of being controlled at the control station, while the audible alarm function 304B remains active until the alarm has been deactivated or silenced at the control station unit.

[0074] The drawing represents the control station of the Man Over Board detection system in more detail. The boxes in the drawing represent physical units, while the circles represent the integrated software. The straight lines represent physical cables, while the dashed arrow line represents to which physical unit the software is integrated upon.

[0075] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram representation of interconnected sensor units in a MOB detection system in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

[0076] The drawing represents the functionality configuration of the sensor units of the Man Over Board detection system. The boxes in the drawing represent physical units, while the circles represent the integrated software. The straight lines represent physical cables, while the dashed arrow line represents to which physical unit the software is integrated upon.

[0077] An interconnector unit 201 connects the different sensors and collects data for the integrated data fusion processing unit. The different sensor units can be configured and adjusted, here they are being portrayed with a simple configuration, which includes two (or more) multibeam laser scanner units 202, two (or more) networked radar units 203, and three (or more) video camera units 204. Any of these sensor units may optionally include embedded local software for first stage object detection and situation awareness. A data fusion processing unit 205 may be configured for data fusing collected by the interconnector unit 201, and may include integrated video verification software 206. The integrated video verification software 206 may be capable of all perimeter, all angles coverage and high resolution with video due to the scanners, radars and video coverage around the periphery of the vessel. Additionally, the data fusion processing unit 205 may include integrated sensor signal processing software 207 with data fusion capabilities, MOB event detection capabilities, MOB event verification capabilities and the capability of stitching, target tracking and also self-learning AI capabilities. The data captured from each sensor unit may be recorded in its final data format. The MOB system utilizes video as means of recording of a MOB alarm and the video associated with an alarm is equal to the native resolution and frame rate of the camera. All required system data are embedded with a date and time stamp in a manner that is compliant with national and international evidential standards. The system may utilize the time code input from a valid coordinated universal time (UTC) feed to generate the date and time stamp.