초록 ▼

COTS devices are integrated into a system employing custom software and custom hardware and software interfaces to collect and communicate data concerning current flows around fixed structure (e.g., inland locks, bridges, harbor structures, etc.) in various bodies of water (e.g., inland waterways, h

COTS devices are integrated into a system employing custom software and custom hardware and software interfaces to collect and communicate data concerning current flows around fixed structure (e.g., inland locks, bridges, harbor structures, etc.) in various bodies of water (e.g., inland waterways, harbors, canals, etc.). Embodiments comprise: sensors and communications equipment, for example wireless systems that transmit sensor data to a lock house; lock house communications equipment that receive sensor data; a processor, e.g., a personal computer, with installed custom software and interface for processing data; an Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder interfaced to the processor; an AIS installed in vessels to include an electronic vector chart display, such as may be installed in a towboat pilothouse; and an optional web-based database application for lock operators to record dam operation scenarios that may be used in research, investigations, and the like.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A system to automatically provide pilots of vessels in navigable portions of bodies of water with measures of existing environmental conditions near manmade structure proximate said navigable portions of bodies of water, comprising: at least one means for sensing at least one environme

We claim: 1. A system to automatically provide pilots of vessels in navigable portions of bodies of water with measures of existing environmental conditions near manmade structure proximate said navigable portions of bodies of water, comprising: at least one means for sensing at least one environmental condition proximate said manmade structure and for collecting data on said at least one environmental condition at pre-specified intervals; at least one first means for communicating in operable communication with at least said at least one means for sensing and collecting data; and at least one means for processing at least some of said data, said at least one means for processing in operable communication with at least said at least one first means for communicating, wherein said at least one means for processing comprises hardware and software; and at least one second means for communicating in operable communication with at least said at least one means for processing, wherein said at least one second means for communicating automatically provides said pilots of vessels with said measures of existing environmental conditions near said manmade structure proximate said navigable portions of bodies of water and updates thereto at pre-specified intervals. 2. The system of claim 1 in which said manmade structure comprises a lock permitting passage of waterborne vessels. 3. The system of claim 1 in which said at least one means for sensing comprises at least one Horizontal Acoustic Doppler Current Profiling (HADCP) system, wherein said at least one Horizontal Acoustic Doppler Current Profiling (HADCP) system collects said data as at least one measure of velocity and direction of horizontal current in said navigable portions of bodies of water, said horizontal current proximate at least one portion of said manmade structure. 4. The system of claim 3 in which said at least one means for sensing and collecting data further comprises at least one wind sensor, wherein said at least one wind sensor provides at least one measure of at least wind velocity and direction as measured proximate said at least one portion of said manmade structure. 5. The system of claim 1 in which said at least one second means for communicating comprises at least one first wireless communications system. 6. The system of claim 5 in which said one second means for communicating further comprises at least one second wireless communications system for automatically communicating between said means for processing and at least one of said pilots of vessels preparing to traverse at least one said navigable portion of said bodies of water near said manmade structure. 7. The system of claim 1 in which said at least one means for processing comprises at least one personal computer configured with custom-developed software for translating data from said at least one means for sensing and collecting data to a format for use in automatically communicating with a Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) identification system used onboard at least some said vessels traversing at least one said navigable portion of said bodies of water. 8. A system to automatically provide pilots of vessels in navigable portions of bodies of water with measures of existing environmental conditions near manmade structure proximate said navigable portions of bodies of water, comprising: at least one sensor collecting said measures of existing environmental conditions near manmade structure proximate navigable portions of bodies of water as data at pre-specified intervals; at least one first communications system in operable communication with at least said at least one sensor; and at least one processor to process at least some of said data, said at least one processor in operable communication with said at least one first communications system, wherein said at least one processor comprises hardware and software; and at least one second communications system in operable communication with at least said at least one processor, wherein said at least one second communications system automatically provides said pilots of vessels with said measures of existing environmental conditions near said manmade structure proximate said navigable portions of bodies of water, and updates thereto at pre-specified intervals. 9. The system of claim 8 in which said manmade structure comprises a lock permitting passage of waterborne vessels. 10. The system of claim 8 in which said at least one sensor comprises at least one Horizontal Acoustic Doppler Current Profiling (HADCP) system, wherein said at least one Horizontal Acoustic Doppler Current Profiling (HADCP) system collects at least one measure of velocity and direction of horizontal current within said bodies of water proximate at least one portion of said manmade structure. 11. The system of claim 10 in which said at least one sensor further comprises at least one wind sensor, wherein said at least one wind sensor provides at least one measure of at least wind velocity and direction as measured proximate said at least one portion of said manmade structure proximate navigable portions of bodies of water. 12. The system of claim 8 in which said at least one second communications system comprises at least one first wireless communications system. 13. The system of claim 12 in which said at least one second communications system comprises at least one second wireless communications system for automatically communicating from said at least one processor to at least one of said pilots of vessels in navigable portions of bodies of water preparing to traverse at least one said navigable portion of said bodies of water near said manmade structure. 14. The system of claim 13 in which said at least one first wireless communications system comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and said at least one second wireless communications system comprises at least one VHF radio. 15. The system of claim 8 in which said at least one processor comprises at least one personal computer configured with custom-developed software for translating said data from said at least one sensor to a format for use in automatically communicating with a Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) identification system used onboard at least some said vessels traversing at least one said navigable portion of said bodies of water near said manmade structure. 16. The system of claim 15 in which at least part of said COTS identification system operates within the VHF frequency range. 17. The system of claim 16 in which said COTS identification system further comprises at least one transponder and one vector-based electronic chart display onboard said vessels traversing at least one said navigable portion of said bodies of water near said manmade structure. 18. The system of claim 8 in which said at least one processor further comprises at least one interface to at least one database, wherein occurrences related to operation of at least one said manmade structure are input to said at least one database. 19. A method for automatically providing pilots of vessels in navigable portions of bodies of water with measures of existing environmental conditions near manmade structure proximate navigable portions of bodies of water, comprising: measuring, via at least one means for sensing, at least one environmental condition proximate said manmade structure; collecting data on said measured at least one environmental condition, said collected data taken at pre-specified intervals; communicating, via at least one first communications system, to at least one processor said collected data on said measured at least one environmental condition taken at pre-specified intervals; processing at least some said collected data on said measured at least one environmental condition taken at pre-specified intervals with at least one processor, said at least one processor in operable communication with at least one said at least one first communications system, wherein said at least one processor comprises hardware and software; and communicating automatically to said pilots of vessels, via at least one second communications system, said measures of existing environmental conditions near said manmade structure proximate said navigable portions of bodies of water, and updates thereto at pre-specified intervals. 20. A method for automatically providing pilots of vessels in navigable portions of bodies of water with measures of existing environmental conditions near manmade structure proximate navigable portions of bodies of water, comprising: providing at least one sensor for collecting said measures of existing environmental conditions near manmade structure proximate navigable portions of bodies of water as data at pre-specified intervals; providing at least one first communications system operably communicating with at least said at least one sensor; providing at least one processor, comprising hardware and software, for processing at least some of said data, said at least one processor operably communicating with at least one said at least one first communications system; and providing at least one second communications system in operable communication with at least said at least one processor, wherein said at least one second communications system automatically provides said pilots of vessels with said measures of existing environmental conditions near said manmade structure proximate said navigable portions of bodies of water, and updates thereto at pre-specified intervals.