OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR NAVIGATION OF VESSELS Russian patent published in 2010 - IPC B63B51/02 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: system consists of two laser beacons and a control unit (laser beam scanning). Each beam has a laser emitter, modulator, laser beam angular position sensor, laser beacon number sensor and a deflector. The vessel is fitted with the mobile receiving part of the navigation system which has an optical antenna and series-connected optical signal reception unit, vessel location unit with a computer and a display. The system enables to determine the value and sign of linear displacement of the vessel from its fairway centre-line, as well as distance to a laser beam based on data on angular position in the horizontal plane of laser beams and the laser beacon number contained in modulated laser beams. The role of human factor in the visual navigation method is reduced.

EFFECT: provision of the navigator with information on the accurate value of linear displacement of the vessel from the fairway centre-line stretching the entire navigable channel and information on the distance to the laser cross-section which may range from several tens of meters to several kilometres, as well as provision of the navigator with comfortable conditions for controlling the vessel, which eliminate possible errors of the operator in a visual navigation method, possibility of automating the vessel control process and interfacing the system with some other navigation systems.

2 cl, 4 dwg