• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.510-517
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• 2019

Efficient path planning is essential for unmanned surface vehicle (USV) navigation. The A^* algorithm is an effective algorithm for identifying a safe path with optimal distance cost. In this study, a modified version of the A^* algorithm is applied for planning the path of a USV in a static and dynamic obstacle environment. The current study adopts the A^* approach while maintaining a safe distance between the USV and obstacles. Two important parameters-path length and computational time-are considered at various start times. The results demonstrate that the modified approach is effective for obstacle avoidance by a USV that is compliant with the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea (COLREGs).

• Journal of Advanced Research in Ocean Engineering
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.192-201
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• 2016

This study examined a PD controller and its application to automatic berthing control of an unmanned surface vehicle (USV). First, a nonlinear mathematical model was established for the maneuvering of the USV in the presence of environmental forces. A PD control algorithm was then applied to control the rudder and propeller during an automatic berthing process. The algorithm consisted of two parts, namely the forward velocity control and heading angle control. The control algorithm was designed based on longitudinal and yaw dynamic models of the USV. The desired heading angle was obtained using the "line of sight" method. Finally, computer simulations of automatic USV berthing were performed to verify the proposed controller subjected to the influence of disturbance forces. The results of the simulation revealed a good performance of the developed berthing control system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Systems Engineering
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2020

The South Korean Navy is making efforts to acquire vessels that the new technology of the 4th industry is applied, and as a part of these efforts, it has a plan to mount and operate an Unmanned Surface Vehicle(USV) on a vessel that will be introduced later. However, the recent studies have focused on only development of common platforms and mission equipment for the USV, and have not sufficiently analyzed studies and operatinoal requirements on mother ship that will operate the mounted USV. Hence, this study analyzed and presented requirements of mother ship with the mounted USV in order to operate effectively it when the future medium and large vessels to be acquired by the South Korean Navy intent to operate the USV.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.475-480
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• 2020

Underwater operating platforms face difficulties regarding power supply and communications. To overcome these difficulties, this study proposes a hybrid surface and underwater vehicle (HSUV) and presents the development of the platform, control algorithms, and results of field tests. The HSUV is capable of supplying reliable power to the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) and obtaining data in real time by using a tether cable between the UUV and the unmanned surface vehicle (USV). The HSUV uses global positioning system (GPS) and ultra-short base line sensors to determine the relative location of the UUV. Way point (WP) and dynamic positioning (DP) algorithms were developed to enable the HSUV to perform unmanned exploration. After reaching the target point using the WP algorithm, the DP algorithm enables USV to maintain position while withstanding environmental disturbances. To ensure the navigation performance at sea, performance tests of GPS, attitude/heading reference system, and side scan sonar were conducted. Based on these results, manual operation, WP, and DP tests were conducted at sea. WP and DP test results and side scan sonar images during the sea trials are presented.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.376-382
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• 2010

These days, a study on 'Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV)' has made very active progress in many countries. Even if it is being expected that there will be a great demand of USV for wide field, such as military operation, private sector, and etc., the study of USV in Korea is still at an early stage. For this reason, we have made a very small USV which is composed of dual mode (autonomous and remote control). The TCP/IP communication is applied to the USV.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.208-213
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• 2016

This paper proposes a potential field-based guidance law for docking a USV (unmanned surface vehicle). In most cases, a USV without side thrusters is an under-actuated system. Thus, there are undockable regions near docking stations where a USV cannot dock to a docking station without causing a collision or backward motion. This paper suggest a guidance law that prevents a USV from enter such a region by decreasing the lateral error to the docking station at the initial stage of the docking process. A Monte-carlo simulation was performed to validate the performance of the proposed method. The proposed method was compared to conventional guidance laws such as pure pursuit guidance and pure/lead pursuit guidance. As a result, the collision angle and lateral distance error of proposed method tended to have lower values compared to conventional methods.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.817-832
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• 2015

This paper presents a state feedback based backstepping control algorithm to address the trajectory tracking problem of an underactuated Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) in the horizontal plane. A nonlinear three Degree of Freedom (DOF) underactuated dynamic model for USV is considered, and trajectory tracking controller that can track both curve trajectory and straight line trajectory with high accuracy is designed as the well known Persistent Exciting (PE) conditions of yaw velocity is completely relaxed in our study. The proposed controller has further been enriched by incorporating an integral action additionally for enhancing the steady state performance and control precision of the USV trajectory tracking control system. Global stability of the overall system is proved by Lyapunov theory and Barbalat's Lemma, and then simulation experiments are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the controller designed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 2015.10a
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• pp.73-74
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• 2015

In the world the interests about a unmanned surface vehicle(USV) are growing up. However it is difficult to launch and recover a USV because of no men on board of USV. And it is more difficult in recovery than launch of USV. So in this research the heaving line launcher was developed to support the recovery of USV easier. And a mock-up was manufactured to validate for adoption to the USV. The muck-up is composed of launcher pipe, remote trigger, air tank, tow shell and heaving line. Tests in land using the mock-up were carried out. The forces by the heaving line launcher to USV were measured by a measuring table during the tests in land. In this paper the development of a mock-up of heaving line launcher, tests in land and the measured forces during tests are presented.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.723-732
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• 2016

This paper proposes an approach to fused navigation of an unmanned surface vehicle(USV) and to detection of the outlier or interference of global positioning system(GPS). The method fuses available sensor measurements through extended Kalman filter(EKF) to find the location and attitude of the USV. The method uses error covariance of EKF for detection of GPS outlier or interference. When outlier or interference of the GPS is detected, the method excludes GPS data from navigation process. The measurements to be fused for the navigation are GPS, acceleration, angular rate, magnetic field, linear velocity, range and bearing to acoustic beacons. The method is tested through simulated data and measurement data produced through ground navigation. The results show that the method detects GPS outlier or interference as well as the GPS recovery, which frees navigation from the problem of GPS abnormality.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2022

This paper proposes a fault detection method for a Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) with overactuated system. Current status information for fault detection is expressed as a scalogram image. The scalogram image is obtained by wavelet-transforming the USV's control input and sensor information. The fault detection scheme is based on Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) algorithm. The previously generated scalogram data was transferred learning to GoogLeNet algorithm. The data are generated as scalogram images in real time, and fault is detected through a learning model. The result of fault detection is very robust and highly accurate.