Abstract:
A system for collecting and communicating data associated with a waterborne vehicle, includes at least one sensor configured to provide signals indicative of data associated with a parameter related to a waterborne vehicle. The system further includes a communication module configured to receive the signals and communicate with a user interface located remote from the vehicle. A method for loading material onto a waterborne vehicle, includes conveying material onto the waterborne vehicle. The method further includes monitoring the draft of the waterborne vehicle using at least one sensor, and discontinuing conveying the material onto the waterborne vehicle when the draft of the waterborne vehicle reaches a predetermined draft as indicated by the at least ore sensor.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/563,971 filed Nov. 28, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a data collection and communication system for waterborne vehicles, in particular, a data collection and communication system for waterborne vehicles including one or more sensors and a communication module for receiving and transmitting data associated with the waterborne vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Waterborne vehicles may include, for example, boats, ships, submersibles, and barges, and it may be desirable to collect data associated with the waterborne vehicle and provide access to the data at a remote location. For example, it may be desirable to collect data associated with a barge and provide access to the data from a remote location. However, barges may typically not include their own source of power or an operator associated with a particular barge. This may render it difficult to determine the location or status of a particular barge, for example, whether a particular barge is loaded or unloaded. It may also be difficult to determine the draft of a particular barge while the barge is being loaded. Therefore, it may be desirable to provide a system for collecting data associated with a waterborne vehicle and/or for providing access to the collected data from a remote location. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In the following description, certain aspects and embodiments will become evident. It should be understood that the aspects and embodiments, in their broadest sense, could be practiced without having one more features of these aspects and embodiments. It should be understood that these aspects and embodiments are merely exemplary. 
         [0005]    One aspect of the disclosure relates to a system for collecting and communicating data associated with a waterborne vehicle. The system includes at least one sensor configured to provide signals indicative of data associated with a parameter related to a waterborne vehicle. The system further includes a communication module configured to receive the signals and communicate with a user interface located remote from the waterborne vehicle. 
         [0006]    According to another aspect, the parameter includes at least one of the location of the waterborne vehicle, draft of the waterborne vehicle, a load carried by the waterborne vehicle, whether the waterborne vehicle has collided with another object, whether fluid is located in wing voids of the waterborne vehicle, current and/or historical pressure in product tanks of the waterborne vehicle, current and/or historical vacuum in product tanks of the waterborne vehicle, current and/or historical temperature in product tanks of the waterborne vehicle, humidity in the product tanks of the waterborne vehicle, ambient temperature associated with the waterborne vehicle, ambient pressure associated with the waterborne vehicle, and ambient humidity associated with the waterborne vehicle. 
         [0007]    According to still another aspect, the communication module is self powered. According to some aspects, the power for the communication module is supplied via at least one of a rechargeable battery, solar power, wind power, and water current power. 
         [0008]    According to yet another aspect, the user interface facilitates viewing of data associated with the waterborne vehicle. The communication module is coupled to the user interface via one or more of the following: a hard-wired link, wireless link, a communications tower, a communications satellite, and an Internet connection. According to another aspect, the user interface includes a website. In another aspect, access to the website is password protected. 
         [0009]    According to still another aspect, the user interface includes at least one of a computer and mobile computer. In another aspect, the mobile computer includes a smart phone. 
         [0010]    According to yet another aspect, the system is configured to determine the draft of the waterborne vehicle at at least one location associated with the waterborne vehicle. In another aspect, the system is configured to determine the draft of the waterborne vehicle at at least two locations associated with the waterborne vehicle. In still another aspect, the system is configured to determine the draft of the waterborne vehicle at at least three locations associated with the waterborne vehicle. In yet another aspect, the system is configured to determine the draft of the waterborne vehicle at at least four locations associated with the waterborne vehicle. 
         [0011]    According to still another aspect, the at least one sensor comprises a pressure sensor. 
         [0012]    According to still another aspect, the communication with the user interface includes a cellular message. 
         [0013]    According to still another aspect, a device associated with the user interface is configured to compare a value based on the signals indicative of data associated with the perimeter with a predetermined set point value. The device associated with the user is further configured to output at least one of a warning and an alarm if the comparison satisfies a predetermined criterion. 
         [0014]    According to another aspect, a method for loading material onto a waterborne vehicle includes conveying material onto the waterborne vehicle. The method further includes monitoring the draft of the waterborne vehicle using at least one sensor, and discontinuing conveying the material onto the waterborne vehicle when the draft of the waterborne vehicle reaches a predetermined draft as indicated by the at least one sensor. 
         [0015]    According to yet another aspect, a waterborne vehicle includes a hull and a system coupled to the hull. The system is configured to collect and communicate data associated with the waterborne vehicle. The system includes at least one sensor configured to provide signals indicative of data associated with a parameter related to the waterborne vehicle, and a communication module configured to receive the signals and communicate with a user interface located remote from the waterborne vehicle. 
         [0016]    According to another aspect, thee waterborne vehicle is a barge. 
         [0017]    Potential objects and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will be set forth in part in the description which follows, or may be learned by practice of the exemplary embodiments. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention. The accompanying drawings and attachment, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to outline principles of the exemplary embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1A  is a schematic top view of an exemplary embodiment of waterborne vehicle, including portions of an exemplary embodiment of a system for collecting data associated with the waterborne vehicle. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1B  is a detailed view of a portion of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0020]      FIG. 2A  is a schematic side view of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 2B  is a detailed view of a portion of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system for collecting and communicating data associated with a waterborne vehicle to a remote location. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system for collecting and communicating data associated with a waterborne vehicle a remote location. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5A  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a pressure sensor. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5B  a top view of the exemplary pressure sensor of  FIG. 5A . 
           [0026]      FIG. 5C  is a cross-section view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 5B . 
           [0027]      FIG. 5D  is a top-section view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 5C . 
           [0028]      FIG. 6A  is an exemplary embodiment of information relating to the draft of an exemplary vehicle at locations associated with exemplary sensors when the vehicle is unloaded. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6B  is an exemplary embodiment of information relating to the draft of the vehicle shown in  FIG. 6A  when the rear portion of the vehicle is loaded. 
           [0030]      FIG. 6C  is an exemplary embodiment of information relating to the draft of the vehicle shown in  FIG. 6A  when the rear and center portions of the vehicle are loaded. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6D  is an exemplary embodiment of information relating to the draft the vehicle shown in  FIG. 6A  when the vehicle is fully loaded. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    Reference will now be made to exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a waterborne vehicle  10 . Exemplary vehicle  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is a barge. However, vehicle  10  could be any type of vehicle configured to travel in water, such as, for example submersibles, ships, and boats. 
         [0034]    Vehicle  10  shown in  FIG. 1  includes on exemplary embodiment of a system  12  for collecting data associated with vehicle  10  and providing access to the collected data from a remote location. Such data may be related to parameters associated with vehicle  10  and may include, but is not limited to, the location of vehicle  10 , the draft of vehicle  10  (e.g., the depth of vehicle  10  submerged below the surface of the water in which vehicle  10  floats), the weight of material carried by vehicle  10 , whether fluid is located in wing voids of vehicle  10  (e.g., when vehicle  10  is barge having wing voids), whether vehicle  10  has collided with an object, pressure (current and/or historical) in product tanks of vehicle  10 , vacuum (current and/or historical) in product tanks, temperature (current and/or historical) in product tanks, humidity in product tanks, and/or ambient temperature, pressure, and/or humidity associated with vehicle  10 . 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , exemplary system  12  includes a communication module  14  and a plurality of sensors  16 . As shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  2 A, and  2 B, sensors  16  are linked to communication module  14  via a communications link  17 , such as, for example, a hardwired- and/or wireless-link. Communication module  14  is configured to receive signals from sensors  16  and communicate information related to the signals to a remote location. 
         [0036]    A remote location may include any place remote from a sensor associated with vehicle  10 , including, such as, for example, a location aboard vehicle  10  separated from the sensor, dockside relative to vehicle  10 , in an office located at a port, aboard a boat in the vicinity of vehicle  10  such as a tugboat, and anywhere linked to system  12  wirelessly or via hardwired communication link, such as, for example, an office located anywhere the world. According to some embodiments, a remote location may be a fixed location, such as a terminal or display unit aboard vehicle  10 , on the dockside relative to vehicle  10 , an office located at a port, or on board a boat in the vicinity of vehicle  10 . According to some embodiments, a remote location may be a mobile device such as a cellular or mobile telephone (e.g., a smart phone), a tablet computer, or a laptop or mobile computer. 
         [0037]    Communication module  14  may be mounted anywhere on vehicle  10 , for example, at a location where the communication module  14  may be exposed to sunlight and may facilitate wireless communication to a location remote from vehicle  10 . According to some embodiments, communication module  14  may include structures configured to convert solar energy into power sufficient to supply electricity to communication module  14  for its operation. According to some embodiments, communication module  14  may include a battery (e.g., a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, configured to store electricity provided by solar energy. According to some embodiments, power may be supplied to communication module  14  via transformation of wind power to electric power and/or transformation of water current to electric power.  Other sources of electric power are contemplated, such as fuel cells. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , communication module  14  is configured to send signals providing data based on the signals received from the plurality sensors  16  to a remote location. For example, communication module  14  may be configured to be coupled via hardwire to a communications link, such as a local network or to the Internet. As shown in  FIG. 3 , according to some embodiments, communication module  14  may be configured to send signals via wireless link to a communications tower  18  (e.g., a cell tower), which, in turn, may forward the communication to an intermediate device  20 , such as a mobile device (e.g., such as a mobile computer or smart phone), and/or a stationary device (e.g., such as a server computer), which, in turn, may forward the communication to a user interface  22 , such as, for example, a mobile device, such as a mobile computer or smart phone, and/or a computer terminal, such as a stationary or laptop computer. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , communications tower  18  may be replaced or supplemented by, fore ample, a communications satellite  24 . It is contemplated that one or more of communication tower  18 , intermediate device  20 , and/or communication satellite  24  may be omitted, replaced, or supplemented by other device(s) to facilitate communications between communication module  14  and user interface  22 . 
         [0040]    According to some embodiments, user interface  22  may facilitate access to data associated with vehicle  10  communicated by communication module  14 . For example, the data may be received and posted on a website, and access to the website and data may be facilitated, so that a person remote from vehicle  10  may be supplied with the data. According to some embodiments, a data security system may be provided, which provides authorized personnel access to the data via the website, for example, via password-protection. 
         [0041]    According to some embodiments, communication module  14  may send a cellular message or e-mail message to a mobile device via a cellular network, for example, a text message. It is contemplated that a cellular message may include a short message service (SMS) message. The cellular message may contain only text, only images, or a combination of images and text. An exemplary image message may be, for example, one or more of the images shown in  FIGS. 6A-6D . Other cellular messages are contemplated. 
         [0042]    According to some embodiments, system  12  may be configured to facilitate tracking of vehicle  10  using, for example, one or more sensors  16  and Global Positioning System information, inertial navigation system information that may make use of gyroscopic movement information or other information related to position and movement. Communication module  14  may facilitate such tracking by sending communication signals to user interface  22  and providing access to the data, for example, as described above. For example, communication module  14  may use Global Positioning System information to send the latitude and longitude of vehicle  10  to a remote location as part of the communication signals. Communication module  14  may also, for example, use Global Positioning System information to calculate the speed and/or direction of vehicle  10  and communicate this information to a remote location. It is contemplated that the Global Positioning System information may be used to identify the location of vehicle  10  on a map, and one of communication module  14  or a device at a remote location may create a map image showing the location of vehicle  10 . 
         [0043]    According to some embodiments, system  12  may be configured to provide information relating to the draft of vehicle  10 . For example, system  12  may include one or more sensors  16 , which may be configured to provide information relating to how deep vehicle  10  is sitting in the water (i.e., the distance between the bottom of vehicle  10  and the surface of the water in which vehicle  10  is floating). For example, system  12  may include a first sensor  16  located at a first end of vehicle  10  and a second sensor  16  located a second end of vehicle  10  located opposite the first end. For example, vehicle  10  may define four corners, and system  12  may include one or more sensors  16  located at each of the four corners of vehicle  10 . The provision of fewer than four sensors is contemplated. For example, a single sensor  16  could be located at a central location of vehicle  10 , with the centrally-located sensor  16  being configured to provide information relating to how deeply vehicle  10  is sitting in the water at the central location. It is also contemplated that a single sensor  16  may include a device, such as a level, to determine whether vehicle  10  is tilted such that it sits unevenly in a body of water, and to calculate the draft at each edge or corner of vehicle  10  either in addition to, or in place of, the draft at the central location. 
         [0044]    In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , system  12  includes four sensors  16 , each located adjacent four corners of vehicle  10 . According to some embodiments, one or more (e.g., each) of sensors  16  is a pressure sensor configured to sense pressure and send signals indicative of pressure to communication module  14 . For example,  FIGS. 5A-5D  show various views of an exemplary pressure sensor  16  that may be used. System  12  may further include a sensor (not shown) for detecting ambient pressure in the vicinity of vehicle  10 , and pressure signals from sensors  16  may be used to determine the depth below the surface of the water at the point at which sensors  16  are mounted on vehicle  10 . By knowing the relative placement of the sensors  16  on vehicle  10  (i.e., the vertical location of the sensors  16  relative to the bottom of vehicle  10 ), the draft of vehicle  10 , or the depth below the surface of the water of the bottom of vehicle  10 , may be determined. 
         [0045]      FIG. 5A  shows an exemplary isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a pressure sensor  16 .  FIG. 5B  shows an exemplary top view of exemplary pressure sensor  16 .  FIG. 5C  shows an exemplary cross-section view of exemplary pressure sensor  16  taken about line A-A of  FIG. 5B .  FIG. 5D  shows to view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 5C . 
         [0046]    Exemplary pressure sensor  16  may include a shell base  26  configured to be coupled to vehicle housing  28 . Vehicle housing  28  may be part of exemplary vehicle  10 , such as the housing of a barge or other waterborne vehicle. Shell base  26  may be coupled to a shell wall  30  and a shell flange  32 . Shell flange  32  may be coupled to a shell cap  34 . According to some embodiments, shell base  26 , shell wall  30 , shell flange  32 , and shell cap  34  may be formed by a single unitary structure formed from a single piece of material. According to some embodiments, shell base  26 , shell wall  30 , shell flange  32 , and shell cap  34  may be formed by a plurality of structures which are coupled together. For example, shell base  26 , shell wall  30 , and shell flange  32  may be a single structure and shell cap  34  may be a separate structure coupled to shell flange  32 . According to some embodiments, sensors  16  are waterproof. For example, according to some embodiments, shell flange and shell cap  34  are separated by a gasket to provide a waterproof seal. Exemplary pressure sensor  16  may also include a sensing device  36 , such as draft sensor, to measure pressure. Sensing device  36  may send one or more signals via communications link  17  to communication module  14  for transmission to a remote location 
         [0047]    According to some embodiments, sensor types other than pressure sensors may be used to determine the draft of vehicle  10 . For example, float sensors in tubes may be used with proximity sensors, such as, for example, laser sensors and/or ultrasonic sensors, to determine the draft of vehicle  10 . The use of other types of sensors is contemplated. 
         [0048]    Exemplary sensors  16  may provide signals to communication module  14 , and communication module  14  may be configured to determine the draft of vehicle  10  and send the draft information to a remote location, and/or to send the sensor signals to a remote location, where the draft may be determined remotely following receipt of the signals. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 6A-6D , system  12  may be configured to provide information sufficient to determine the draft of vehicle  10  at a location associated with respective sensors  16 . As shown in  FIGS. 6A-6D , the draft information may be provided for each of four corners of four-cornered vehicle  10 . It is contemplated that  FIGS. 6A-6D  are exemplary displays, such as the display of information on a user interface at a remote location. 
         [0049]      FIG. 6A  shows an exemplary embodiment of information relating to the draft of exemplary vehicle  10 , such as when vehicle  10  is unloaded. According to some embodiments, gauges  38  display draft data  40  relating to vehicle  10  at the location of a respective sensor  16 . According to some embodiments, gauges  38  are displayed on a visual display, such as a user interface, at a remote location. Gauges  38  may also include set points  42 . According to some embodiments, when draft data  40  is equal to set point  42 , warnings/alarms may be triggered, as described below. As shown in  FIG. 6A , exemplary draft data  40  at each of four exemplary locations of vehicle  10  when vehicle  10  is unloaded are 5.5 inches, 5.3 inches, 5.8 inches, and 5.6 inches.  FIG. 6B  shows exemplary draft data  40  at the four exemplary locations when the rear portion of exemplary vehicle  10  has been loaded. The respective draft data  40  in  FIG. 6B  are shown to be, for example, 8.5 inches, 8.3 inches, 5,1 inches, and 4.8 inches.  FIGS. 6C  and  6 D show the exemplary respective draft data  40  when the rear and center portions of vehicle  10  are loaded ( FIG. 6C ) and when vehicle  10  is fully loaded ( FIG. 6D ). 
         [0050]    According to some embodiments, the visual display of draft data  40  may change as it approaches, is equal to, or is greater than the value of respective set points  42 . For example, when draft data  40  is, for example, lower than set point  42  by one inch or more, draft data  40  may appear in a green color. When draft data  40  is, for example, lower than set point  42  by less than one inch, draft data  40  may appear, for example, in a yellow color. When draft data  40  is equal to or greater than set point  42 , draft data  40  may appear, for example, in a red color. Other visual indicators are also contemplated. For example, draft data  40  may blink or flash when it is within a predetermined value of set point  42  and the rate of blinking or flashing may increase as draft data  40  approaches or exceeds the value of set point  42 . 
         [0051]    It may be desirable to determine the draft of vehicle  10  for a number of reasons. For example, such information may be useful when vehicle  10  is being loaded with cargo or material. As vehicle  10  is loaded, it will sink lower in the water. As a result, the draft will increase, particularly at portions of vehicle  10  more heavily loaded. In order ensure compliance with regulations and/or in prevent vehicle  10  from being overloaded or unevenly loaded, it may be desirable to determine the draft as vehicle  10  is being loaded. In some embodiments, this determination may be performed real-time, and automatically and advantageously provide real-time feedback (e.g., warnings) via a user interface. In particular, some regulations may specify the maximum draft of a waterborne craft permitted on a particular body of water (e.g., a canal, river, or lake, etc.). Thus, the ability to determine the draft real-time as vehicle  10  is being loaded may result in loading vehicle  10  with more cargo or material, while still maintaining compliance with such draft regulations. In addition, it may be desirable to know the draft during loading in order to ensure that vehicle  10  is not overloaded for the body of water on which vehicle  10  will be navigating, or to ensure that vehicle  10  is loaded evenly. It may also be desirable to now the draft to prevent overloading of vehicle  10 , which may prevent vehicle  10  from striking obstacles during transit. 
         [0052]    According to some embodiments, system  12  may include one or more sensors  16  configured to provide signals for determining one more of the following: the weight of material carried by vehicle  10 , whether fluid is located in wing voids of vehicle  10  (e.g., when vehicle  10  is a barge having wing voids), whether vehicle  10  has collided with something (e.g., using accelerometer(s)), pressure (current and/or historical) in product tanks of vehicle  10 , vacuum (current and/or historical) in product tanks, temperature (current and/or historical) in product tanks, humidity in product tanks, and/or ambient temperature, pressure, and/or humidity associated with vehicle  10 . The information from these sensors may be collected by communication module  14 , which may communicate this data to other systems, which may, in turn, use the data to take action responsive to the data. For example, based on the data, warnings/alarms may be triggered alerting the desirability of responsive action. For example, the sensors may sense the data, the communication module may communicate the data real-time to a user interface, resulting in a real-time warning/alarm, for example, about the vehicle colliding with another body. 
         [0053]    According to some embodiments, the device at a remote location may include a visual display. The visual display may display information based on the signals from sensors  16  and communicated by communication module  14 . According to some embodiments, set points  42  are not displayed visually, but are used to compare the data and signals received from sensors  16  and/or transmitted by communication module  14 . An exemplary display is described above with reference to  FIGS. 6A-6D . The display may include set points  42 , such as a specific location in a Global Positioning System, or a minimum/maximum draft, load, pressure, vacuum, temperature, acceleration, fluid level in wing voids, and/or humidity. Set points  42  may be manually entered by a user, or may be manually or automatically loaded from a database, for example, based on a scheduled transportation route for vehicle  10  or a current or future body of water in which vehicle  10  is travelling. 
         [0054]    According to some embodiments, set points  42  may be used to trigger warnings/alarms based on signals transmitted by communication module  14  and received from sensors  16 . For example, a warning/alarm may be triggered when the data based on at least one of sensors  16  is within a specified range of set point  42 . According to some embodiments, a warning alarm may be triggered when the data related to sensors  16  is within a specified range of set point  42 , such as, for example, 1 inch of the maximum draft, 5 percent humidity, or 500 miles of a specific Global Positioning System coordinate. It is also contemplated that a warning/alarm may be triggered when the data related to sensors  16  is equal to a specified set point  42 . 
         [0055]    According to some embodiments, data related to sensors  16  is communicated by communication module  14  to a remote location where the data may be visually displayed on a device, for example, on a computer or mobile device, such as a smart phone. According to some embodiments, the device at the remote location may prompt a user for responsive action. For example, an application running on the device may allow the user to initiate a call to a specified individual, such as a foreman or supervisor loading vehicle  10 . Other examples of a responsive action may include, for example, prompting the user to create a cellular message or e-mail message. It is contemplated that some or all of the cellular message or e-mail message may be automatically generated using the data that triggered the warning/alarm. Other responsive actions are also contemplated. 
         [0056]    According to some embodiments, data related to sensors  16  and set points  42  is not directly communicated by communication module  14 . For example, communication module  14  may send warnings/alarms to a remote location, which are based on the data related to sensors  16  and set points  42 . 
         [0057]    Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.