Automated dock positioning system

    公开(公告)号:US10940925B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-03-09

    申请号:US16274386

    申请日:2019-02-13

    摘要: A computer controlled robotic system that autonomously adjusts the location of a floating marine dock whenever water levels change in a body of water (e.g., a lake or reservoir) to maintain sufficient draft clearance for safe boat operation and ensure safe access to the dock. The system is comprised of an electric motor-driven tractor device attached to the shore-end of a walkway and a pair of electric-motor driven cable winch assemblies with a distributed control system to move the floating dock toward or away from the shore to maintain a relative desired water depth for safe boat operation and positioning in relation to the moving edge of the water shoreline. The tractor and winch motions are controlled by a combination of on-board (dockside) microprocessor and web-based computing that utilizes software to process location telemetry from distance measuring sensors such as Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensors, Global Positioning System (GPS) data, and a compass bearing to calculate the incremental actuations of the tractor and winch motors. FIG. 1 depicts the system's main elements installed on a marine dock floating near the water's edge (shoreline).

    Automated Dock Positioning System
    2.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20200255105A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-08-13

    申请号:US16274386

    申请日:2019-02-13

    IPC分类号: B63C1/02 G05D3/20 H04L29/08

    摘要: A computer controlled robotic system that autonomously adjusts the location of a floating marine dock whenever water levels change in a body of water (e.g., a lake or reservoir) to maintain sufficient draft clearance for safe boat operation and ensure safe access to the dock. The system is comprised of an electric motor-driven tractor device attached to the shore-end of a walkway and a pair of electric-motor driven cable winch assemblies with a distributed control system to move the floating dock toward or away from the shore to maintain a relative desired water depth for safe boat operation and positioning in relation to the moving edge of the water shoreline. The tractor and winch motions are controlled by a combination of on-board (dockside) microprocessor and web-based computing that utilizes software to process location telemetry from distance measuring sensors such as Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensors, Global Positioning System (GPS) data, and a compass bearing to calculate the incremental actuations of the tractor and winch motors. FIG. 1 depicts the system's main elements installed on a marine dock floating near the water's edge (shoreline).