Maneuvering Support System (MSS) for port regions

• Grant number: 21/10060-7
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: December 01, 2021
• End date: May 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Naval and Oceanic Engineering - Shipbuilding and Ocean Systems Technology
• Principal Investigator: André Seiji Sandes Ianagui
• Grantee: André Seiji Sandes Ianagui
• Company: Navigandi Pesquisas e Desenvolvimento de Equipamentos Marítimos Ltda
• CNAE: Atividades técnicas relacionadas à arquitetura e engenharia ; Pesquisa e desenvolvimento experimental em ciências físicas e naturais
• Pesquisadores principais: Carlos Eduardo Caparroz Duarte
• Associated researchers: Eduardo Aoun Tannuri
• Associated research grant: 18/16594-0 - Maneuvering Support System (MSS) for port regions, AP.PIPE

Abstract

It is everyone's knowledge that the poor Brazilian logistics infrastructure is one of the main factors responsible for blocking the country's economic growth. This problem affects several transportation facilities, specially the maritime one. The width of the access channels, the availability of the terminals, and the maintenance/expansion of dredge areas, all contribute for the excessive price shipowners pay to moor their vessels in the country. In addition, due to the problems mentioned, it is not astonishing that the pilot's services end up being high. The pilot is the main responsible for a maneuver in the port region, and thus, in order to mitigate risks, usually uses some assisting equipment. Focused on this segment, this project seeks to develop a new product capable of providing real-time dynamic information of the vessels and the surroundings in order to assist the pilot during the maritime maneuvers. A Portable Pilot Unit (PPU) is a hardware-software combination where 2 high precision GNSS antennas integrated with inertial measurement units (IMUs) are quickly installed in the maneuvered vessel by the responsible maritime pilot. Based on the data collected, it is possible to use a navigation software to display in real-time all the vessel's dynamic information, including its position, velocity and heading angle. In the software, all the port geographics is presented, and thus, a clear real-time virtual navigation may be experienced. In PIPE 1, the first prototype of the Maneuvering Support System (MSS) was developed. This protype weights 1.08 kg, with a height and diameter of 10 cm, being one of the lightest and most compact in the market. Besides, based on the Real Time Kinematics (RTK) technology applied, the equipment has a centimeter-level positioning accuracy. Finally, its heading angle has a precision of 0.01° and its rate of turn (ROT) sensor has a precision of 0.1°/min. Although being functional, the developed prototype is not ready for the market yet. As expected in a first version, there are errors present in the electronics developed. For example, the AIS module is intermittent. In other orders, there is current always passing through it, even when the equipment is turned off, which characterizes a great energy consumption. In addition, during the field tests performed, it was noted a great GNSS signal multipath. For this reason, new GNSS antennas with multipath reduction must be tested and further tunned in order to achieve optimum performance along with the developed case. Finally, it is important to register the equipment with all the legal agencies such as ANATEL. In PIPE 2, the project seeks to develop a final version of both the equipment's hardware and firmware, as well as to extend research in the area of augmented reality. (AU)