• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.47-55
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• 2024

The paper presents a docking-type automatic landing system that works in tandem with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs). The system utilizes a pyramid-shaped landing gear and pad for effective landing. In marine environments, a docking device guides the drone to land securely. To test the system, a ship's behavior was simulated using a 3-DoF motion platform, and the successful operation and utility of the docking-type automatic landing system were demonstrated.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.116-124
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• 2024

Automatic docking of small planing ship is a critical aspect of maritime operations, requiring accurate prediction of motion states to ensure safe and efficient maneuvers. This study investigates the use of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to predict motion state of a small planing ship to enhance navigation automation in port environments. To achieve this, simulation tests were conducted to control a small planing ship while docking at various heading angles in calm water and in waves. Comprehensive analysis of the ANN-based predictive model was conducted by training and validation using data from various docking situations to improve its ability to accurately capture motion characteristics of a small planing ship. The trained ANN model was used to predict the motion state of the small planning ship based on any initial motion state. Results showed that the small planing ship could dock smoothly in both calm water and waves conditions, confirming the accuracy and reliability of the proposed method for prediction. Moreover, the ANN-based prediction model can adjust the dynamic model of the small planing ship to adapt in real-time and enhance the robustness of an automatic positioning system. This study contributes to the ongoing development of automated navigation systems and facilitates safer and more efficient maritime transport operations.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.25-33
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• 2012

This paper deals with the development of automatic docking system for the detachable mobile seat(DMS) of a vehicle for the handicapped people who are unable to ride in a car by oneself. Although such vehicles for the handicapped already exist, there is a need for a vehicle with improved docking method for convenience. This paper presents an automatic docking system using two ultrasonic sensors. In order to identify the precise location of the mobile seat in front of the vehicle door, the capability of ultrasonic sensor for detecting the part edge is analyzed and mathematical modeling is performed to measure the exact location of the side edge. And also, this paper presents an automatic docking method using this sensor system and the car lift which is provided in the inside of the car.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.30 no.10 s.116
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• pp.839-845
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• 2006

A laser docking system provides a centimeter-level accuracy distance from jetty mounted laser sensors in order to help a vessel to approach to a pier. It is very accurate & useful, whereas there are too many considerable problems. Laser sensors of the laser docking system need to be correctly positioned and installed on a jetty to allow for full range of vessels to be berthed and to consider loading condition and tidal variations. Above all, the laser docking system is expensive and its service coverage is limited. In order to solve these problems, CDGPS positioning method using GPS satellites has been proposed. This paper presents that, through RHDOP simulation, the previous CDGPS positioning method using only GPS satellites is not able to provide the continuous service with centimeter-level positioning accuracy. And this paper proposes a pseudolite-augmented positioning method for vessel docking in order to solve the problem of the continuous service on the previous CDGPS positioning method. In this paper, pseudolite is used to aid in CDGPS positioning. This paper shows that the proposed method can provides the continuous service through comparison analysis of RHDOP simulation results between the GPS satellite constellation and the pseudolite-augmented GPS satellite constellation. Furthermore, it is shown that the proposed positioning method satisfies the positioning performance required for vessel automatic docking at a test bed designed for performance evaluation.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.305-312
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• 2021

There is a gradual increase in the need for energy charging in marine environments because of energy limitations experienced by electric ships and marine robots. Buoys are considered potential energy charging systems, but there are several challenges, which include the need to maintain a fixed position and avoid hazards, dock with ships and robots in order to charge them, be robust to actions by birds, ships, and robots. To solve these problems, this study proposes a smart buoy robot that has multiple thrusters, multiple docking and charging parts, a bird spike, a radar reflector, a light, a camera, and an anchor, and its mechanism is developed. To verify the performance of the smart buoy robot, the position control under disturbance due to wave currents and functional tests such as docking, charging, lighting, and anchoring are performed. Experimental results show that the smart buoy robot can operate under disturbances and is functionally effective. Therefore, the smart buoy robot is suitable as an energy charging system and has potential in realistic applications.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.137-144
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• 2001

The major movement blocks of the container are the range between the apron and the designation points on yard in container terminals. The yard tractor drived by operator takes charge of it's movement in conventional container terminals. In automated container terminal, AGV(automatic guided vehicle) takes charge of a yard tractor's role and information of navigation path are ordered from upper control system. The automated container terminal facilities must have the docking system that guides landing zinc to execute high speed travelling and precision positioning. This paper describes the new docking method with the rotating LSB(laser slit beam) generator and two pair of photo receiver. The LSB generator is installed on the fixed ground and the photo receiver is implemented on the moving vehicle such as AGV. The proposed docking system is implemented to confirm it's function and accuracy. The accuracy of measured moving position is represented in ±5mm at 1 data sampling.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.664-670
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• 2007

This study deals with image-based visual servoing for automatic recharging of mobile robot. Because mobile robot must be recharged periodically, it is necessary to detect and move to docking station. Generally, laser scanner is used for detect of position of docking station. CCD Camera is also used for this purpose. In case of using cameras, the position-based visual servoing method is widely used. But position-based visual servoing method requires the accurate calibration and it is hard and complex work. Another method using cameras is image-based visual servoing. Recently, image based visual servoing is widely used for robotic application. But it has a problem that cannot have linear trajectory in the 3-dimensional space. Because of this weak point, image-based visual servoing has a limit for real application. In case of 2-dimensional movement on the plane, it has also similar problem. In order to solve this problem, we point out the main reason of the problem of the resolved rate control method that has been generally used in the image-based visual servoing and we propose an image-based visual servoing method that can reduce the curved trajectory of mobile robot in the cartesian space.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2006

In this paper, we develope the navigation system for patrol robots in indoor environment. The proposed system consists of PDA map modelling, a localization algorithm based on a global position sensor and an automatic charging station. For the practical use in security system, the PDA is used to build object map on the given indoor map. And the builded map is downloaded to the mobile robot and used in path planning. The global path planning is performed with a localization sensor and the downloaded map. As a main controller, we use PXA270 based hardware platform in which embedded linux 2.6 is developed. Data handling for various sensors and the localization algorithm are performed in the linux platform. Also, we implemented a local path planning algorithm for object avoidance with ultra sonar sensors. Finally, for the automatic charging, we use an infrared ray system and develop a docking algorithm. The navigation system is experimented with the two-wheeled mobile robot using North-Star localization system.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.157-169
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• 2011

To provide more rational design solutions at conceptual design level, axiomatic design method has been applied to solve critical part of a new engineering problem called Mobile Harbor. In the implementation, the Mobile Harbor, a functional harbor system that consists of a vessel with container crane approaches to a container ship anchored in the open sea and establishes a secure mooring between the two vessels to carry out loading and unloading of containers. For this moving harbor system to be able to operate successfully, a reliable and safe strategy to moor and maintain constant distance between the two vessels in winds and waves is required. The design process of automatic ship-to-ship mooring system to satisfy the requirements of establishing and maintaining secure mooring has been managed using axiomatic design principles. Properly defining and disseminating Functional Requirements, clarifying interface requirements between its subsystems, and identifying potential conflict, i.e. functional coupling, at the earliest stage of design as much as possible are all part of what need to be managed in a system design project. In this paper, we discuss the automatic docking system design project under the umbrella of KAIST mobile harbor project to illustrate how the Axiomatic Design process can facilitate design projects for a large and complex engineering system. The solidified design is presented as a result.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.57 no.11
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• pp.2074-2079
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• 2008

This paper presents a software toolbox with $Matlab^{(R)}$ developed for the various performance analysis of an automatic guidance system of the Bimodal Tram. The Bimodal Tram is a new kind of transportation vehicle which could be an all-wheel steered multiple-articulated vehicle. This vehicle has to be equipped with an automatic guidance, traction/braking, and docking system, In the stage of developing such a system, its validities and performances should be verified under various operation conditions. For the purpose of doing these things through simulation, this toolbox has been developed and demonstrated well by applying it to the KRRI model.