Without a human onboard with all-around situational awareness, the sensor systems of autonomous and remotely operated vessels are critical for navigational safety and mission effectiveness. Much attention goes to the onboard camera
Without a human onboard with all-around situational awareness, the sensor systems of autonomous and remotely operated vessels are critical for navigational safety and mission effectiveness. Much attention goes to the onboard camera suite, but radars, and their associated processing, are also a part of the sensor system mix.
When developers specify radar for an autonomous vessel, attention often goes to factors such as range, resolution, antenna size, and technology. Those choices matter, but they do not determine what the autonomy system or remote operator ultimately receives. This is determined by the quality of the radar processing.
An autonomy control system needs machine-readable information; a remote operator needs the maritime picture presented as clearly as possible to aid decision-making and reduce cognitive load. In both cases, a suite of sensors, with data processed and fused into usable information, is ideal.
Why radar remains important
An autonomous vessel may carry cameras, an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, LiDAR, sonar, and other sensors. Cameras can help identify an object, while AIS can provide a transmitting vessel's declared identity, position, course, and speed. However, neither alone provides a complete picture.
Cameras can be affected by darkness, glare, fog, rain,
Content Original Link:
" target="_blank">
