Optimal estimation of ship's attitudes for beampattern corrections in a coaxial circular array

A study is conducted to estimate the accurate attitude of a ship's motion and the estimation is used to arrive at the corrections required for a farfield pattern of a coaxial circular array. The relevant analytical expression is developed for the computation of moving average filter weights to estimate the ship's attitude for beamsteerings at different sea conditions. Farfield patterns are presented for different steered directions for the coaxial circular array of the additive type, and the multiplicative array technique is also used for beamsteering for higher steering angles to observe its control on the sidelobes as well as for the main beamwidths. In order to introduce an adaptive filter to estimate the accurate attitude for stable sonar platform, an adaptive parameter is examined for bathymetric applications where nonstationary ship movement prevails.     

The use of artificial neural networks for the intelligent optimalcontrol of surface ships

Many conventional ship autopilots use proportional integral and derivative (PID) control algorithms to guide a ship on a fixed heading (course-keeping) or a new heading (course-changing). Such systems usually have a gyrocompass as a single sensory input. Modern sea going vessels have a range of navigation aids most of which may be interconnected to form integrated systems. It is possible to employ the navigational data to provide best estimates of state vectors (Kalman filter) and optimal guidance strategies. Such techniques require powerful computing facilities, particularly if the dynamic characteristics of the vessel are changing, as may be the case in a maneuvering situation or changes in forward speed. This paper investigates the possibility of training a neural network to behave in the same manner as an optimal ship guidance system, the objective being to provide a system that can adapt its parameters so that it provides optimal performance over a range of conditions, without incurring a large computational penalty. A series of simulation studies have been undertaken to compare the performance of a trained neural network with that of the original optimal guidance system over a range of forward speeds. It is demonstrated that a single network has comparable performance to a set of optimal guidance control laws, each computed for different forward speeds     

Ship motion measurement filter design

A procedure is presented for designing Kalman filters to measure linear and angular ship motion parameters using realistic models of the ship motion dynamics. The design is based on the state space modeling of ship motion dynamics. The designed filters exhibited significant accuracy improvement (order of magnitude) over filters which do not model ship dynamics. The sensitivity of the filter mechanization to mismodeling of dynamics is investigated. Bounding filter design techniques are used to minimize the effects of mismodeling. The particular measurement system investigated consisted of linear and angular accelerometers in a strapdown mode. The design techniques are also applicable to inertial instruments in a stable inertial platform mode.     

Adaptive Observer Based Backstepping Controller Design for Dynamic Ship Positioning

Modified adaptive observer based backstepping control system for dynamic positioning of ship is proposed. As an improvement, the adaptive observer takes the first-order wave frequency model and the bias term which represent the slowly varying environmental disturbances and the unmodeled dynamics. Thus, the wave-frequency motions are filtered out, and only the reconstructed low-frequency motions are sent as inputs of the controller. Furthermore, as the ship dynamics parameters are unknown, the adaptive estimation law is designed for both the unknown ship dynamics and the unmeasured state variables. Based on the estimated states and parameters, backstepping controller considering the integral action is designed. Global exponential stability (GES) for the total system is proved using Lyapunov direct method. Simulation results show a good performance of the observer and control system.     

风浪背景下舰船水压场信号的自适应AR模型预测滤波

为了有效地从风浪背景中检测舰船水压信号,首先根据舰船水压信号和波浪噪声的特点以时间序列的AR模型理论为依据,导出一种便于实现的自适应滤波器结构,并用NFTF自适应算法实现对舰船水压信号的预测滤波,取得了明显的效果.计算机仿真实验结果表明,给出的方法对抗波浪干扰具有良好的性能.     

基于拓扑优化方法的船体支柱布局优化设计

船体支柱的布局影响到船舶功能性舱室的布置及相应的结构设计,而目前支柱布局多依赖母型船或者工程师设计经验,缺少基于数学优化的技术支撑。变密度的拓扑优化方法可将属于离散变量优化的支柱布局问题转化为连续变量优化问题。通过悬臂梁—支柱结构的算例,验证了该方法用于解决支柱布局优化问题的可行性。针对某型VLCC的支柱—大跨度甲板结构的支柱布局优化问题,根据布置限制条件设定了支柱优化设计域,选择了两种不同的优化目标函数进行支柱的布局优化设计,最后对优化结果进行了对比分析。结果表明,本方法具有较好的可行性,无需过多设计经验即可优化得到结构性能较好的支柱布局方案,可为此类的支柱布局优化设计提供技术支撑。     

Adaptive beamforming: spatial filter designed blocking matrix

Controlling the resolution in adaptive beamformers is often crucial. A simple method that works for both narrow-band and broad-band arrays is presented. This method is based on the normalized leaky LMS algorithm in conjunction with a generalized sidelobe canceller (GSC) structure, where the GSC is designed using a spatial filtering approach. In essence, the suppression of the spatial filters and the implicit noise of the leaky LMS algorithm together determine the adaptive beamformer. Analytical expressions are given for the Wiener filters and the output spectrum versus frequency and point source location. These expressions are employed in the design specification of the spatial filters and to obtain conditions for a controlled quiescent beamformer response. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the behavior of the array     

Full scale CFD seakeeping simulations for case study ship redesigned from V-shaped bulbous bow to X-bow hull form

Increasing propulsion efficiency, safety, comfort and operability are of the great importance, especially for small ships operating on windy sites like the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Seakeeping performance of ships and offshore structures can be analysed by different methods and the one that is becoming increasingly important is CFD RANS. The recent development of simulation techniques together with rising HPC accessibility enables performance of advanced seakeeping simulations for ships in a full scale. The paper presents CFD seakeeping analysis for a case study vessel in two variants: V-shaped bulbous bow hull form (as built) and innovative hull form (X-bow type). The study presents the influence of redesigning the ship on selected seakeeping aspects. The advanced CFD model, with the application of overset mesh technique, was described in detail. Selected numerical results were validated on the basis of experimental testing in a towing tank and showed good agreement. The approach demonstrated here of performing the CFD seakeeping simulations for the analysis of ship performance in a full scale and close to real loading conditions has direct application to the design process as well as in determination of optimal operational parameters of any ship.     

Validation of ship manoeuvring models using metamodels

This paper describes how simplified auxiliary models—metamodels—can be used to create benchmarks for validating ship manoeuvring simulation models. A metamodel represents ship performance for a limited range of parameters, such as rudder angles and surge velocity. In contrast to traditional system identification methods, metamodels are identified from multiple trial recordings, each containing data on the ship’s inherent dynamics (similar for all trials) and random disturbances such as environmental effects and slightly different loading conditions. Thus, metamodels can be used to obtain these essential data, where simple averaging is not possible. In addition, metamodels are used to represent a ship’s behaviour and not to obtain physical insights into ship dynamics. The experimental trials used for the identification of metamodels can be found in in-service recorded data. After the metamodel is identified, it is used to simulate trials without substantial deviations from the ship state parameters used for the identification. Subsequently, the predictions of the metamodels are compared with the predictions of a tested manoeuvring simulation model. We present two case studies to demonstrate the application of metamodels for moderate turning motions of two ships.     

Source localization using subspace estimation and spatial filtering

Subspace-tracking algorithms have traditionally been unable to deal with a large number of sources and at the same timepreserve their computationally efficiency, since, typically, efficiency goes down as the cube of the signal subspace dimension. One solution to this problem, which is presented in this paper, is to use a newly developed algorithm for the design of spatial filters in matrix form, in order to spatially filter the incoming data snapshots. The result is that the signal subspaces are confined to small angular sectors and, thus, the effective number of signals present is reduced. A method is developed for designing spatial filters in an efficient manner by formulating the design procedure as a rank-deficient linear least-squares problem. The source-bearing estimation is done using the signal-covariance matrix, which is updated using a recently developed fast algorithm, which is necessary in situations where one or more sources are nonstationary. The combination of the subspace-based bearing-estimation and spatial filter algorithms is shown to give good performance in cases of medium signal-to-noise ratio and is capable of resolving sources that are below the resolution limit of both conventional and adaptive beamforming. In addition, the use of spatial filtering makes it possible to estimate bearings for more than N narrow-band sources, using an N-element array. An example illustrating this capability is given.     

NNFFC-adaptive output feedback trajectory tracking control for a surface ship at high speed

An adaptive output feedback controller based on neural network feedback-feedforward compensator (NNFFC) which drives a surface ship at high speed to track a desired trajectory is designed. The tracking problem of the surface ship at low speed has been widely investigated. However, the coupling interactions among the forces from each degree of freedom (DOF) have not been considered in general. Furthermore, the influence of the hydrodynamic damping is also simplified into a linear form or neglected. On the contrary, coupling interactions and the nonlinear characteristics of the hydrodynamic damping can never be neglected in high speed maneuvering situation. For these reasons, the influence of the nonlinear hydrodynamic damping on the tracking precision is considered in this paper. Since the hydrodynamic coefficients of the surface ship at high speed are very difficult to be accurately estimated as a prior, it will be compensated by NNFFC as an unknown part of the tracking dynamics system. The stability analysis will be given by the Lyapunov theory. It indicates that the proposed control scheme can guarantee that all the signals in the closed-loop system are uniformly ultimately bounded (UUB), and numerical simulations can illustrate the excellent tracking performance of the surface ship at high speed under the proposed control scheme.     

Nonlinear adaptive control of an underwater towed vehicle

This paper addresses the problem of simultaneous depth tracking and attitude control of an underwater towed vehicle. The system proposed uses a two-stage towing arrangement that includes a long primary cable, a gravitic depressor, and a secondary cable. The towfish motion induced by wave driven disturbances in both the vertical and horizontal planes is described using an empirical model of the depressor motion and a spring-damper model of the secondary cable. A nonlinear, Lyapunov-based, adaptive output feedback control law is designed and shown to regulate pitch, yaw, and depth tracking errors to zero. The controller is designed to operate in the presence of plant parameter uncertainty. When subjected to bounded external disturbances, the tracking errors converge to a neighbourhood of the origin that can be made arbitrarily small. In the implementation proposed, a nonlinear observer is used to estimate the linear velocities used by the controller thus dispensing with the need for costly sensor suites. The results obtained with computer simulations show that the controlled system exhibits good performance about different operating conditions when subjected to sea-wave driven disturbances and in the presence of sensor noise. The system holds promise for application in oceanographic missions that require depth tracking or bottom-following combined with precise vehicle attitude control.     

艏艉线型优化对船舶阻力性能的影响

为提高母型船阻力性能,以船体阻力性能为优化对象,基于改造母型船法,研究船舶球鼻艏以及船尾线型的改变对船舶阻力性能的影响.采用高度集成化的Tribon系统、可视化绘图软件Auto CAD及CFD(Computational Fluid Dynamics)通用前处理软件ICEM联合建模的方法来建立船体模型.通过模拟计算结果与实验值的对比分析,验证CFD技术在船舶阻力性能预报中的合理性和有效性.通过对比3种不同球鼻艏时的船体阻力得知:从阻力性能方面考虑,对于低速丰满型船舶选用普通型球鼻艏以及中高速船舶采用上翘型球鼻艏均可以获取较好地减阻效果.同时比较不同航速下尾部线型对船体总阻力的影响表明,选优后的方形尾在相同的航速下阻力低、消耗的功率小、形状效应小、黏压阻力和摩擦阻力也相对较小.     

The optimization of ship weather-routing algorithm based on the composite influence of multi-dynamic elements

This study proposes a ship weather-routing algorithm based on the composite influence of multi-dynamic elements for determining the optimized ship routes. The three-dimensional modified isochrone (3DMI) method utilizing the recursive forward technique and floating grid system for the ship tracks is adopted. The great circle sailing (GCR) is considered as the reference route in the earth coordinate system. Illustrative optimized ship routes on the North Pacific Ocean have been determined and presented based on the realistic constraints, such as the presence of land boundaries, non-navigable sea, seaway influences, roll response as well as ship speed loss. The proposed calculation method is effective for optimizing results by adjusting the weighting factors in the objective functions. The merits of the proposed method can be summarized as: (1) the navigability of the route can be analyzed dynamically to acquire the optimal route; (2) adopting multi-dynamic elements as weighting factors has the benefits in energy efficiency, time-saving and minimum voyage distance; and (3) an ability to enhance speed performance and to incorporate safety concern in a dynamic environment.     

Shipborne GPS attitude determination during MMST-93

The attitude parameters of a ship underway were measured using a configuration of four 10-channel NovAtel Model 951 narrow-correlator-spacing receivers. These C/A code receivers have output rates of up to 10 Hz and maintain effective carrier phase lock under relatively harsh ship dynamics. The attitude parameters are calculated independently at each epoch using differential carrier phase measurements, carrier phase ambiguities are resolved on-the-fly by constraining the approximately known distances between the antennas that are rigidly mounted on the ship. Carrier phase thermal noise and multipath are minimized by mounting the antennas as far apart as possible. The four-antenna configuration provides redundancy and further improves accuracy. During the Matthew Motion Sensor Trials (MMST-93) conducted off the coast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, in June-July 1993, the GPS-derived attitude parameters were compared with those obtained with a Honeywell HG1050 ring laser gyro inertial navigation system (INS) which provides roll and pitch with an accuracy of 15 arcsecs and heading with an accuracy of 2 arcmins. To simulate rough weather conditions, sharp maneuvers were performed to induce roll angles in excess of 10°. No accuracy degradation nor any loss of GPS measurements occurred. The RMS agreement between GPS and INS derived attitude parameters is better than 2 arcmins in heading, 1 arcmin in pitch and 3 arcmins in roll. This level of accuracy demonstrates the capability of GPS for cost-effective shipborne attitude determination at an accuracy level of 0.05     

Probabilistic modeling of ship powering performance using full-scale operational data

The energy efficiency of ocean-going vessels can be increased through various operational considerations, such as improved cargo arrangements and weather routing. The first step toward the goal of maximizing the energy efficiency is to analyze how the ship's powering performance changes under different operational settings and weather conditions. However, existing analytical models and empirical methods have limitations in reliably estimating the powering performance of full-scale ships in real operating conditions. In this study, machine learning techniques are employed to estimate the powering performance of a full-scale ship by constructing regression models using the ship's operational data. In order to minimize the risk of overfitting in the regression process, domain knowledge based on physical principles is combined into the regression models. Also, the uncertainty of the estimated performance is evaluated with consideration of the environmental uncertainties. The obtained regression models can be used to predict the ship speed and engine power under different operational settings and weather conditions.     

Transformation of a wave energy spectrum from encounter to absolute domain when observing from an advancing ship

The article presents a practical approach to transform a wave energy spectrum from encounter domain to absolute domain. This problem has its specific relevance, when shipboard sea state estimation is conducted by the wave buoy analogy; notably for some particular implementation solving for the sea state directly in the encounter domain. In this context, the encounter domain is that observed from a ship when it advances in a seaway, whereas the absolute domain is that corresponding to making observations from a fixed point in the inertial frame. Spectrum transformation can be uniquely carried out if the ship sails “against” the waves (beam to head sea) but in following sea conditions there exists no unique solution to the problem. Instead, a reasonable approach valid for practical engineering must be applied, and the article outlines one viable solution that can be used to transform a wave spectrum from encounter to absolute domain. Specifically, two pseudo algorithms are presented, and good performance is achieved with both algorithms when they are tested at different operational scenarios.     

单体喷水推进船舶动力定位控制方法研究

面向一型喷水推进器为动力定位执行机构的单体喷水推进船舶,开展了船舶仿真模型建立、推力分配及进一步动力定位相关控制算法设计与仿真模拟。针对传统的定步长Kalman滤波提出了改进方案,同时考虑到单体喷水推进船舶的特殊性,对推力分配算法进行了优化,并基于荷载前馈的PD控制算法开展了不同工况下的仿真试验。试验结果表明,所提出的喷水推进推力分配算法能够有效控制一型单体喷水推进船舶实现定点、定艏向、移位、转艏等动力定位典型功能,并具备一定抗外部干扰能力。     

Self-Tuning Underwater Image Restoration

A self-tuning image restoration filter based on a simplified version of the Jaffe-McGlamery underwater image formation model is presented. Optimal values of the filter parameters are estimated automatically for each individual image by optimizing a quality criterion based on a global contrast measure. The simplified model is ideally suitable for diffuse-light imaging with limited backscatter, but qualitative tests show good performance in a variety of imaging conditions. In addition, quantitative tests with a large number of frames from six real mission videos indicate a substantial performance improvement when restoration is used as a preprocessor for a classifier detecting man-made objects in unconstrained subsea videos     

测船非匀速直线测量引起的多波束测深误差分析

多波束测深系统作业的基本前提是测船保持匀速直线运动状态,而实际作业中非匀速运动状态下的多波束测量普遍存在,此时常用的基于加速度测量原理的测姿设备会受到影响。为此,在多波束测姿误差分析的基础上,针对直线加速、U型转弯两种情况下的测姿误差进行研究,通过INS测姿与GNSS三天线测姿的数据比较,对非匀速直线运动状态下姿态误差的影响特点及程度进行了分析。实验证明当测船做直线加速运动时,会使纵摇角产生较大误差;当测船转弯时,会使横摇角产生较大误差,这对指导多波束实际测量具有一定的参考价值。