JP2013231619A - Navigation support apparatus and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a load for a user to input a barge shape in starting navigation by enabling a shape of a barge aggregate to be inputted through simple processing when starting the navigation.SOLUTION: A navigation support apparatus comprises an aggregate frame storage section and a display control section. In the aggregate storage section, a rectangular aggregate frame image surrounding a barge aggregate composed of a barge which is connected to a present ship and operated is written and stored beforehand. When a user selected from the aggregate frame storage section an aggregate frame image that is an image of the barge aggregate connected to the present ship, the display control section displays the selected aggregate frame image while superimposing it on the image of the barge aggregate of the present ship on a display screen of a radar.

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation support apparatus and method for a river radar.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a navigation support apparatus that supports ship navigation has a function of displaying the surrounding environment where the ship is present to the operator of the ship by displaying the ship on a radar screen. The function to display this ship on the radar screen makes it possible for the operator to intuitively grasp the size of the ship to the surrounding environment that is currently navigating, and to other ships or the surroundings that are navigating. Contact with obstacles can be detected and prevented in advance.
In Europe and the United States, cargo is transported using a river and a canal ship (Riverboat). In the transportation of cargo using this ship, in order to improve the transportation efficiency of the cargo, the cargo may be mounted not only on the own ship but also on a barge connected to the own ship. This barge is a type of ship that travels with heavy loads on rivers, canals, etc., and is operated mainly connected to the front of a tugboat or the like.
That is, the barge is pushed by the tugboat as a collective body connected by combining a plurality of units to carry the cargo.
The shape of the tugboat and barge assembly (barge assembly) is set according to the shape that is actually used, and this shape is displayed on the radar screen to support the navigation of the tugboat. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-71800 A

However, since the barge assembly is connected to the ship, the image of the ship (including the barge assembly) displayed on the radar screen changes depending on the number of barges constituting the barge assembly every time the ship is operated. It will be.
For this reason, in Patent Document 1, when displaying according to the shape of the barge assembly that is actually operated, the user himself / herself checks the presence / absence of a barge in the shape of the current barge assembly. It is necessary to set.
For this reason, when starting navigation, the user always inputs the shape of the barge assembly, which is an unnecessary load that is very troublesome in the navigation schedule.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems, and enables the input of the shape of the barge aggregate at the start of navigation by simple processing, and the input of the barge shape at the start of navigation by the user. An object of the present invention is to provide a navigation support apparatus and method that can reduce the load on the vehicle.

  The navigation support apparatus according to the present invention includes an aggregate frame storage unit in which a rectangular aggregate frame image surrounding a barge aggregate composed of barges connected to the own ship is stored and stored, and the own ship The user selects an aggregate frame image, which is an image of the barge aggregate connected to the unit, from the aggregate frame storage unit, and the selected aggregate frame image is the barge set of the ship on the radar display screen. And a display control unit that displays the image superimposed on the body image.

  The navigation support apparatus according to the present invention extracts an aggregate frame that reads a plurality of aggregate frame images from the aggregate frame storage unit as candidates from the shape of the barge aggregate fixed to the ship, detected by a radar. A barge assembly in which the display control unit displays the candidate on the display screen of the radar, and the assembly frame image selected by the user from the candidates is fixed to the ship. The aggregate frame image is displayed so as to be superimposed on the image of the barge aggregate on the display screen.

  In the navigation support apparatus of the present invention, the aggregate frame image is grouped and stored in the aggregate frame storage unit for each type of shape of the barge aggregate detected by a radar. The frame extracting unit extracts the aggregate frame image of the group corresponding to the shape as the candidate from the aggregate frame storage unit based on the shape of the barge aggregate detected by the radar.

  The navigation support apparatus of the present invention edits the aggregate frame image by a generation process for inputting the number of horizontal arrays and the number of vertical arrays in the barge aggregate, and stores the generated aggregate frame image in the aggregate frame storage It further has an aggregate frame registration unit for writing and storing the data.

  The navigation support apparatus of the present invention generates the aggregate frame image by a generation process of arranging the barges in the barge aggregate in a connected state, and stores the edited aggregate frame image in the aggregate frame storage unit. It further has an aggregate frame registration unit for writing and storing.

  In the navigation support apparatus of the present invention, the aggregate frame extraction unit surrounds a plurality of the barge aggregates based on the shape detected by the radar from the shape of the barge aggregate composed of a plurality of barges connected to the ship. An assembly frame image reading process from an assembly frame storage unit in which the assembly frame image is written and stored in advance, and a display control unit displays the candidate on the display screen of the radar. And displaying the aggregate frame image selected by the user from among the candidates as an aggregate frame of the barge aggregate fixed to the ship, overlaid on the image of the barge aggregate on the display screen. And a control process.

  According to the present invention, an aggregate frame image that displays the aggregate frame on the radar display screen is stored in the aggregate frame storage unit in advance using an aggregate frame that indicates all types of the barge aggregate, and the barge Since the assembly frame corresponding to the connection is read out and used, when loading the cargo on the barge and starting navigation of the ship, it is easy to input the shape of all types of the barge assembly connected to the ship. Since it can do, it becomes possible to reduce the load of the barge-shaped input at the time of a user's navigation start.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structural example of the radar apparatus using the navigation assistance apparatus by the 1st Embodiment of invention. It is a figure explaining the structural example of the group of the aggregate frame memorize | stored in the aggregate frame storage part 14, and an aggregate frame. It is a figure which shows the example of the display screen of the display part 6 which overlap | superposed the display aggregate frame image with the barge aggregate image of the ship in a radar image. It is a flowchart explaining the process which produces | generates the aggregate frame image of the new barge aggregate in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the screen which adjusts the position of the own ship connected with an aggregate frame and an aggregate frame. It is a flowchart explaining the process which produces | generates the aggregate frame image of the new barge aggregate in 3rd Embodiment.

  The navigation support apparatus according to the present invention displays an aggregate frame corresponding to a barge aggregate configured by connecting a plurality of barges, superimposed on a display image of the barge aggregate detected by the radar of the display unit of the radar apparatus. Let As a result, the user confirms the size of the barge assembly that is connected to the ship by the ship frame in the radar image displayed on the display unit of the radar device. Therefore, it is possible to avoid obstacles such as bridge girder and other tugboats on the route, and to support the navigation of own ship pushing the barge assembly. Here, the aggregate frame is displayed corresponding to the scale ratio of the radar image, and when superimposed on the barge aggregate in plan view, the barge forming the barge aggregate is the smallest rectangle that does not protrude from the frame. is there.

  In Europe and the United States, as described above, cargo is often loaded on riverboats and transported through rivers and canals. In addition, in order to increase the amount of cargo transported, there is a case where a flat-bottom barge carrying the cargo called the barge is connected to the own ship for operation. At this time, the overall size of the barge assembly (hereinafter referred to as all types) varies depending on the number of barges connected to the ship or the size of the barges. Therefore, depending on how the barge is connected to the ship, the entire type changes every time it travels to carry the cargo, so it is necessary to input the configuration of the barge assembly at the time of operation to the navigation support device. is there.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a navigation support apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration example of a radar system using a navigation support apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The first embodiment is a configuration of a navigation support apparatus corresponding to a barge assembly normally used in Europe. In FIG. 1, the radar system of this embodiment includes a radar device 100 and an antenna device 200.
The antenna device 200 includes an antenna unit 201 and a transmission / reception control unit 202.

The antenna unit 201 includes an antenna as an antenna and a rotation mechanism that rotates the antenna, and is arranged at a high position on the deck of the ship, for example.
The transmission / reception control unit 202 receives a control signal from the radar apparatus 100, and transmits a transmission wave transmitted by the antenna unit 201, and receives a reception wave (a reflected wave when the object is irradiated with the transmission wave). Control of the pulse width of the transmission wave, the pulse repetition period, the frequency band of the reception wave, the rotation speed of the antenna, and the like is performed.

The radar device 100 includes a navigation support device 1, an antenna control unit 2, an AD conversion unit 3, a signal processing unit 4, a display control unit 5, a display unit 6, an operation unit 7, a sweep memory 8, and an image memory 9.
The operation unit 7 is an input device for inputting data such as a keyboard and a mouse. The display unit 6 is an image display device such as a liquid crystal display device. The display unit 6 displays a radar image indicating the surrounding environment centered on the ship, which is detected by the transmission / reception processing of the radar wave in the antenna device 200 and the signal processing of the signal processing unit 4.
The antenna control unit 2 outputs a control signal related to transmission / reception of the above-described transmission wave and reception wave to the antenna device 200 based on a control value input from the operation unit 7 by the user.
The AD conversion unit 3 quantizes the reception signal supplied from the radar apparatus 100 and sequentially writes and stores it as digital data in the sweep memory 8.

The signal processing unit 4 reads digital data from the sweep memory 8, performs coordinate conversion using position coordinates from a GPS (Global Positioning System) (not shown), and various types such as STC (Sensitivity Time Control) that suppresses sea surface reflection noise. Perform signal processing. The signal processing unit 4 writes and stores the digital data subjected to the signal processing in the image memory 9 as image data of the radar image.
The display control unit 5 reads the radar image data from the image memory 9 and displays the radar image on the display unit 6.

The navigation support apparatus 1 connects a rectangular aggregate frame surrounding a barge aggregate that is an aggregate of barges connected to the ship to the ship in the radar image displayed on the display unit 6. The image is superimposed on the image of the barge aggregate.
The navigation support apparatus 1 includes an aggregate frame extraction unit 11, a frame display control unit 12, an aggregate frame registration unit 13, and an aggregate frame storage unit 14.

Next, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of an assembly frame and a group of assembly frames stored in the assembly frame storage unit 14. In FIG. 2, 24 types of patterns P1 to P24 are shown as examples of the barge aggregate.
For example, the structure of the aggregate frame of the barge aggregate will be described using the pattern P17. In this pattern P17, six barges are connected to the front part of the ship using a rope or a connecting tool to form a barge aggregate. Here, in the connection configuration of the barge aggregate which is a horizontal arrangement (row arrangement) arranged in the horizontal direction and a vertical column (column arrangement) arranged in the vertical direction, the middle column (2 columns) in the lower (second row) arrangement The own ship is connected to the barge at the bow. This pattern P17 shows a configuration in which the own ship pushes the barge assembly and navigates the barge assembly together with the own ship. In the present embodiment, the aggregate frame is a frame in which the own ship is included in a barge to form a barge aggregate, and the own ship and the barge do not protrude in plan view.

  Further, in the pattern P17, the antenna line in the antenna unit 201 of the antenna device 200 is arranged at the bow portion of the own ship, that is, the triangular portion connected to any barge of the own ship's barge assembly. As will be described later, when the aerial line position at the bow portion overlaps the barge aggregate image of the ship in the radar image with the aggregate frame image that is an image showing the aggregate frame corresponding to this barge aggregate This is the reference point for positioning. In the aggregate frame image, a reference line that passes through the position where the aerial line is arranged and is parallel to the traveling direction of the ship is set.

  Further, the plurality of types of aggregate frames in FIG. 2 are grouped so as to be easily read from the aggregate frame storage unit 14 or to easily edit the barge connection configuration in the barge aggregate. In Europe, the size of barges is standardized, and the number of barges constituting a barge aggregate is often less than ten. For this reason, the aggregate frame storage unit 14 of the navigation support apparatus mounted on the radar apparatus used in Europe has a small number of patterns of all types, and a basic barge assembly that is often used at the time of shipment. The connected configuration is written and stored in advance in the aggregate frame storage unit 14 as an aggregate frame image.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the aggregate frame extraction unit 11 detects the ship and the barge set from the radar image according to the position of the antenna in the antenna device provided at a predetermined position on the ship, for example, at the bow of the ship. A barge aggregate image representing the body is detected. Further, the aggregate frame extraction unit 11 stores an aggregate frame image similar to the size (for example, length or width) of the detected barge aggregate image in the aggregate frame storage unit 14. Extract from image. Here, the aggregate frame extraction unit 11 performs a group selection in the display unit 6 from the aggregate frame storage unit 14 for a plurality of aggregate frame images having vertical and horizontal dimensions similar to the barge aggregate image. Display in the set reference image display area. This reference image display area is provided in a position where the image for confirming the position of the ship is not obstructed or difficult to see by the radar image, for example, in an area excluding the central portion of the display screen of the display unit 6. .

  Here, the aggregate frame extraction unit 11 displays each aggregate frame image read from the aggregate frame storage unit 14 as, for example, a thumbnail image on the reference image display area in the display unit 6. When the user selects the aggregate frame image connected to the ship from the aggregate frame image shown in the reference image display area in the display unit 6 by the operation unit 7, the aggregate frame extraction unit 11 Identification information for identifying the aggregate frame image selected by the user is output to the frame display control unit 12.

  The frame display control unit 12 reads the image data of the aggregate frame image selected by the user from the aggregate frame storage unit 14 based on the identification information supplied from the aggregate frame extraction unit 11. Further, the frame display control unit 12 detects the image position of the ship in the barge aggregate image in the radar image from the position where the antenna line is arranged. The frame display control unit 12 performs a process of matching the size of the aggregate frame image read from the aggregate frame storage unit 14 with the scale of the radar image, and generates a display aggregate frame image from the aggregate frame image.

Then, the frame display control unit 12 superimposes the position of the antenna line in the display aggregate frame image and the position of the antenna line arranged on the ship in the barge aggregate image.
After superimposing the positions of the antenna lines, the display frame control unit 12 rotates the ship and the barge aggregate in the display aggregate frame around the position of the superimposed antenna lines, and detects them from the radar image. The barge aggregate image showing the own ship and barge aggregate obtained in this way and the provisional angular direction in which the own ship and barge aggregate within the display aggregate frame overlap at the maximum are determined. After determining the provisional angle, the display frame control unit 12 finely adjusts the angle so that the bow direction and the reference line of the display aggregate frame image are parallel, and the display aggregate frame image is adjusted with respect to the barge aggregate image. The image of the aggregate frame is displayed with respect to the barge aggregate image in the radar image on the display unit 6.
Here, for example, in the overlapping process, the display frame control unit 12 rotates the aggregate frame image by a preset unit angle around the position of the antenna, and the ship of the barge aggregate image and the display aggregate image The angle at which the area of the overlapping portion with the barge assembly is maximized is detected, and this angle is set as a temporary angle direction.

Next, FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the display screen of the display unit 6 in which the display aggregate frame image is superimposed on the barge aggregate image of the ship in the radar image.
In FIG. 3, the display aggregate frame image (outline of the entire barge) is displayed superimposed on the barge aggregate image of the barge aggregate not including the own ship in the radar image separately from the outline of the own ship. . However, as shown in FIG. 2, the aggregate frame image may be formed so as to correspond to the barge aggregate including the own ship as a barge aggregate.
By controlling the ship's navigation using this radar image, the ship buoy (area indicated by the arrow), the other ship, and the riverbank showing the route as the route to navigate for ships that float on the river The distance relationship with the pier, etc. can be grasped. The radar image displayed on the display unit 6 provides navigation support for navigation of the ship by using a barge aggregate image corresponding to the ship and all types of barge assemblies connected to the ship.

Returning to FIG. 1, in the plurality of aggregate frame images displayed in the reference image display area by the aggregate frame extraction unit 11, when the aggregate frame image corresponding to the barge aggregate connected to the ship is not registered, The user performs an input to perform a registration process for generating an aggregate frame image of a barge aggregate corresponding to a new barge connection configuration through the operation unit 7.
The aggregate frame registration unit 13 sets the image data of the aggregate frame image of a new pattern created by the user and the identification information for identifying this image data, and writes them in the aggregate frame storage unit 14 for storage.

Next, FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing for generating an aggregate frame image of a new barge aggregate.
Step S1:
The aggregate frame registration unit 13 lists the barge shapes of all the barges used in the currently registered barge aggregate, for example, vertical and horizontal dimensions, from the barge size storage area in the aggregate frame storage unit 14. A table is displayed in the reference image display area on the display screen of the display unit 6.

Step S2:
The user confirms whether or not dimensions (vertical and horizontal dimensions) indicating the size of the barge on which the cargo is to be placed are registered by checking the list displayed in the reference image display area in the display unit 6. To do.
Here, if the size of the barge to be used is not registered, the user advances the process to step S3, and if already registered, advances the process to step S4.

Step S3:
Next, the user inputs the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the barge to be newly registered to the radar apparatus 100 using the keyboard of the operation unit 7 or the like.
Thereby, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 sets the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the barge input by the user and the dimension identification information indicating the dimensions as a set to the barge dimension storage area in the aggregate frame storage unit 14. Write and store.
Further, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 lists, from the barge size storage area in the aggregate frame storage unit 14, the vertical and horizontal dimensions of all the barges used in the currently registered barge aggregate as a list. The image is displayed in the reference image display area on the display screen of the display unit 6.

Step S4:
Next, the user selects the size of the barge used for forming the barge aggregate from the barges displayed in the reference image display area using the keyboard or the mouse of the operation unit 7.
In addition, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 displays an edit screen display area in which an image of the ship is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 6.
The user uses the keyboard or mouse of the operation unit 7 to actually connect the barge assembly barge connected to the ship image in the edit screen display area of the display unit 6. Place a barge at the position.
As a result, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 displays an image of the barge aggregate composed of barges with dimensions selected from the list in the edit screen display area on the display screen of the display unit 6.
Then, when the arrangement of the barges in the barge assembly is completed, the user inputs registration completion from the operation unit 7 to the radar apparatus 100.

Step S5:
Next, when an end of registration is input from the user, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 is the maximum that cannot be seen when any of the barge aggregate barges displayed in the edit screen display area overlap in plan view. A rectangular frame is formed, and an image of the formed frame and a barge image connected as a barge aggregate in the frame are set as an aggregate frame image (see FIG. 2).
The aggregate frame registration unit 13 adds identification information for identifying the image data to the image data of the generated aggregate frame image.
Then, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 displays the generated aggregate frame image in the edit screen display area in the display unit 6.

Step S6:
Next, the user confirms the aggregate frame image of the barge aggregate displayed in the edit screen display area in the display unit 6, and the aggregate frame image created by himself / herself is now used for cargo transportation. Check if it matches the barge aggregate you are going to use.
As a result of this confirmation, when the user confirms that the barge aggregate of the aggregate frame image displayed in the edit screen display area in the display unit 6 is a barge connection configuration to be used for cargo transportation from now on, To step S7.
On the other hand, when the user confirms that the barge aggregate of the aggregate frame image displayed in the edit screen display area in the display unit 6 is not a barge link used for freight transportation from now on, that is, the link of the actual link is different. If a barge aggregate is formed, the process proceeds to step S8.

Step S7:
Next, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 assigns identification information to the generated aggregate frame image, and then sets the image data of the barge aggregate image and the identification information for identifying the assigned image data, The data is written and stored in the aggregate frame storage unit 14.

Step S8:
Next, the user uses the keyboard or the mouse of the operation unit 7 so that the barge aggregate connected to the ship image is already formed in the edit screen display area on the display screen of the display unit 6. Correct the arrangement of the placed barges.
Thereby, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 rearranges and displays the image of the barge having the size already selected from the list in the vicinity of the own ship image.
Then, when the correction process such as the correction of the position of the barge in the barge assembly or the addition of the barge ends, the user inputs the correction end to the radar apparatus 100 from the operation unit 7.
Here, when the correction end indicating the end of the correction process is input from the user, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 advances the process to step S5.

As described above, the present embodiment uses an aggregate frame indicating all types of barge aggregates, and an aggregate frame image for displaying the aggregate frame on the radar display screen is stored in the aggregate frame storage unit 14 in advance. Write and remember.
Thus, according to the present embodiment, the aggregate frame corresponding to the barge aggregate connected to the ship is read out from the aggregate frame image registered in the aggregate frame storage unit 14 and used. When starting a ship's navigation with a load, it is possible to input the shape of all types of barge assemblies connected to the ship with a simple process of selection. It is possible to reduce the load of

Further, in this embodiment, the aggregate frame extraction unit 11 detects an image of the ship from the antenna position of the antenna unit 201 from the radar image generated by the radar apparatus 100, and connects to the image of the ship. An image of the barge aggregate is extracted from the image of the barge aggregate.
In this embodiment, the aggregate frame extraction unit 11 reads an aggregate frame image similar to the extracted image of the barge aggregate from the aggregate frame storage unit 14 and displays the aggregate frame image on the display unit 6 so that the user's Assume that the aggregate frame image to be used is a candidate.
For this reason, according to the present embodiment, even if there are a large number of aggregate frame images stored in the aggregate frame extraction unit 11, from candidates similar to the barge aggregate easily connected to the ship, It is possible to easily select a barge assembly frame corresponding to the ship.

<Second Embodiment>
A navigation support apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Similarly to the first embodiment, the second embodiment also has a configuration of a navigation support apparatus corresponding to a barge assembly normally used in Europe. Hereinafter, configurations and operations different from those of the first embodiment will be described.

  The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the assembly frames are grouped according to the arrangement configuration as shown below. That is, the plurality of types of aggregate frames in FIG. 2 are grouped so as to be easily edited. As described above, in Europe, the size of barges is standardized, and the number of barges constituting a barge aggregate is often less than ten. For this reason, the number of patterns of all types is small, and the assembly frame storage unit 14 of the navigation support device mounted on the radar device used in Europe has a basic barge assembly frequently used at the time of shipment. The configurations are grouped as follows and written and stored in advance.

  For example, since the patterns P1, P2, P3, and P24 are barge aggregates in which barges are arranged in a line, they are grouped as a group G1. The patterns P8, P14, P15, P16, P18, P22, and P23 are grouped as a group G2 because they are barge aggregates in which barges are arranged in two columns. The patterns P11, P17, P19, P20, and P21 are grouped as a group G3 because they are barge aggregates in which barges are arranged in three rows. The patterns P4, P5, P6, P10, P12, and P13 are grouped as a group G4 because the barge is connected to the port side or starboard instead of the bow of the ship. The patterns P7 and P9 are grouped as a group G5 because the connected barge has a shape similar to the ship shape.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the aggregate frame extraction unit 11 detects the ship and the barge set from the radar image according to the position of the antenna in the antenna device provided at a predetermined position on the ship, for example, at the bow of the ship. A barge aggregate image representing the body is detected. Further, the aggregate frame extraction unit 11 selects a group stored in the aggregate frame storage unit 14 based on the size (for example, length or width) of the detected barge aggregate image. Here, the aggregate frame extraction unit 11 selects a plurality of groups corresponding to the barge aggregate image from the aggregate frame storage unit 14, and sets the reference image preset in each group to the group in the display unit 6. The image is displayed in the reference image display area set when the selection is made.

For example, the reference image is set as an image of the pattern P1 in the group G1, and the reference image is set as an image of the pattern P8 in the group G2.
When the user selects one of the groups displayed in the reference image display area using the input device of the operation unit 7, the aggregate frame extraction unit 11 can select all the groups included in the group selected by the user. The display frame image of the pattern is read from the aggregate frame storage unit 14.

Next, the aggregate frame extraction unit 11 displays each of the read display frame images as a thumbnail image in the reference image display area of the display unit 6.
When the user selects the aggregate frame image connected to the ship from the display frame image shown in the reference image display area on the display unit 6 with the operation unit 7, the aggregate frame extraction unit 11 The identification information for identifying the selected aggregate frame image is output to the frame display control unit 12.

  Next, when the barge aggregate image corresponding to the barge aggregate connected to the ship is not registered in the selected group from the plurality of groups displayed in the reference image display area by the aggregate frame extraction unit 11, The user performs input for performing registration processing for generating an aggregate frame image of a new barge aggregate using the operation unit 7. Regarding the registration process, the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment shown in FIG. For this reason, only the description of step S7, which is different from the operation of the first embodiment, will be made in correspondence with the grouping of the aggregate frame images.

Step S7:
Next, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 sets the image data of the barge aggregate image and the identification information for identifying the image data as a set, and belongs to the corresponding group in the aggregate frame storage unit 14 to collect the aggregate frame. The data is written and stored in the storage unit 14.
Here, when the aggregate frame registration unit 13 forms the barge aggregate in the aggregate frame image by the already registered barge, the aggregate frame image that has already been newly generated in the group in the type of barge array. When there is a group having an arrangement pattern similar to the arrangement of (1), it belongs to this group and is written and stored in the assembly frame storage unit 14. For example, when the newly generated barge aggregate has a barge array pattern of two columns, it belongs to the group G2 in FIG.
For this reason, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 belongs to the group G2 the newly generated aggregate frame image of the barge aggregate, and writes and stores it in the aggregate frame storage unit 14.

On the other hand, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 creates a new group when there is no group having the same arrangement pattern as the arrangement of the newly generated aggregate frame image in the group of the barge arrangement type. , Belong to this group and write and store in the aggregate frame storage unit 14. For example, when the barge arrangement in the newly created barge aggregate is four columns, it does not belong to any of the groups G1 to G5.
For this reason, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 newly generates a group G6, assigns the newly generated aggregate frame image of the barge aggregate to the group G6, and writes it to the aggregate frame storage unit 14. Remember.

  In this embodiment, the aggregate frame images stored in the aggregate frame storage unit 14 are grouped in correspondence with the barge array, and as a candidate, an aggregate of barge arrays similar to the barge aggregate image. Since a group of frame images is selected, even if there are a large number of aggregate frame images stored in the aggregate frame extraction unit 11, candidates similar to the barge aggregate that is easily connected to the ship, Compared to the first embodiment, it is possible to more easily select the barge assembly frame corresponding to the ship.

  Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, in the aggregate frame image displayed in the reference image display area in the display unit 6, a frame is applied to the barge selected by the user through the input from the operation unit 7. The display control unit 12 may be configured to display on the display screen of the display unit 6 in a color different from other barges of the aggregate frame image. For example, according to the present embodiment, the state of the cargo of each barge in the barge assembly can be changed by setting the barge on which the important cargo is loaded to red, and the barge where the cargo has been unloaded, to yellow. Can be easily recognized. In addition, in the aggregate frame image in the reference image display area of the display unit 6, when the user selects a barge and a color for displaying the barge by the operation unit 7, the frame display control unit 12 displays on the display unit 6. A barge selected with a color instructed by the user may be displayed on the screen.

<Third Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a navigation support apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The third embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment and the second embodiment shown in FIG. Unlike the first and second embodiments, the third embodiment shows a configuration of a navigation support apparatus corresponding to a barge assembly normally used in the United States. Hereinafter, configurations and operations different from those in the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described.

In the United States, cargo ships often carry barges that they do not own, not just their own barges, and there are about 3 to 30 barges that are connected in a barge assembly. Thus, there are various patterns of connection configurations. Here, in the United States, a system in which a ship pushes a barge assembly is common.
All types of barges, that is, there are various patterns of barge connection configurations in the barge assembly, and the barge connection configurations including the barge connection configurations are registered as in the first and second embodiments already described. However, selecting the aggregate frame image corresponding to the entire type itself is a complicated process for the user.
Further, the barges in the barge aggregate are often several barges, and the delivery destination of the cargo is often different, and a new barge may be connected in the middle. For this reason, every time a barge is disconnected or a new barge is connected, it is a complicated process to accurately input the barge connection configuration in the barge aggregate.

Therefore, in the third embodiment, only the frame portion of the assembly frame described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment is used without showing the connection configuration of the barge assembly connected to the ship. It is an aggregate frame image. That is, in the third embodiment, an aggregate frame image having only a rectangular aggregate frame that does not show a barge connection configuration in the aggregate frame image shown in FIG. 2 is used. For this reason, in the third embodiment, a plurality of aggregate frame images of only the aggregate frames of the barge aggregate operated by the company are previously written and stored in the aggregate frame storage unit 14.
The aggregate frame as the aggregate frame image does not include the shape of the ship because it is unclear which of the barges constituting the barge aggregate is connected to the ship pushing the barge aggregate. Not. The position where the ship is connected to the aggregate frame is adjusted by the user on the display screen of the display unit 6 as described later after selecting the aggregate frame.

  Next, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen for adjusting the position of the ship frame to be connected to the assembly frame and the assembly frame. Here, Fig.5 (a) is a figure which shows the display screen in the display part 6 which adjusts to which part of an aggregate frame the own ship is connected. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a display screen on the display unit 6 that generates a new aggregate frame image that is not stored in the aggregate frame storage unit 14. The images shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B are displayed on the display unit 6 in the same manner as the reference image display area of the first embodiment as a place where there is no problem in confirming the navigation of the ship in the radar image. It is displayed in an edit screen display area displayed in an area excluding the central part of the display screen.

In FIG. 5A, a frame 500 indicates an aggregate frame image of a barge aggregate that is currently connected to the ship. This aggregate frame image is an aggregate frame image selected by the user from candidates extracted by the aggregate frame extraction unit 11 from the aggregate frame storage unit 14 based on the barge aggregate image extracted from the radar image.
The button 501 is provided to control whether or not to hide the currently selected assembly frame image. The display on the button 501 has a switch configuration of “on” indicating the display state of the assembly frame image or “off” indicating the non-display state of the assembly frame image.

When the user wants to erase the display frame image from the radar image, the frame display control unit 12 performs a process of hiding the frame 500 when the user clicks the button 501 with the mouse.
That is, when displaying the aggregate image of the next prepared barge on the radar image, or when removing all the barges connected to the ship and navigating for a short time by the ship alone, the radar image A button 501 is used to display only the outer shape of the ship and hide the current assembly frame image.

  The adjustment bar 503 is configured to move the mark 504 left and right with a mouse or the like. When the user moves the mark 504, the frame display control unit 12 performs display processing for moving the icon 502 indicating the ship to the left and right in accordance with the movement of the mark 504. The position of the icon 502 is set in order to set a reference line used when the aggregate frame image is superimposed on the barge aggregate image in the radar image displayed on the display surface of the display unit 6. Do.

Here, the reference line is a preset line segment and needs to be set to be parallel to the bow direction of the ship in the radar image.
In addition, since the aggregate frame image serves as a reference for superimposing the aggregate frame image on the barge aggregate image, the position of the reference line in the aggregate frame image needs to be accurate. Therefore, the position where the barge assembly and the ship are connected is an element that determines the position of the reference line in the assembly frame, and therefore needs to be adjusted.

In the display field 505, the frame display control unit 12 displays the number of barge columns (Columns) in the barge configuration of the barge aggregate corresponding to the aggregate frame currently displayed on the display unit 6. Similarly, in the display field 506, the number of barge rows in the barge configuration of the barge aggregate corresponding to the aggregate frame currently displayed on the display unit 6 is displayed by the frame display control unit 12.
In the display field 507, the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the current assembly frame are displayed by the frame display control unit 12.
Here, the number of columns, the number of rows, the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the barge are stored in the aggregate frame storage unit 14 with identification information added as a set together with the corresponding aggregate frame image.

  Therefore, when the frame display control unit 12 reads the aggregate frame image selected by the user from the aggregate frame storage unit 14, the frame display control unit 12 includes the aggregate frame image and the aggregate frame barge corresponding to the aggregate frame image. The number of barge columns and rows and the size of the assembly frame are read out. Then, the frame display control unit 12 displays the number of barge columns and rows read from the aggregate frame storage unit 14 and the dimension of the aggregate frame in the edit screen display area of the display screen in the display unit 6 as shown in FIG. Displayed as shown in (b). Further, since the frame display control unit 12 displays the aggregate frame image so as to overlap the barge aggregate image, the process is the same as in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the edited image in FIG. 5B is displayed by the aggregate frame registration unit 13 reading and storing the data stored in the aggregate frame storage unit 14 in the edit screen display area of the display screen in the display unit 6. . Here, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 displays the vertical dimension and the horizontal dimension of each barge for each type of barge such as types 600, 601,. A vertical dimension of a standard barge is displayed in the display field 600_a, and a horizontal dimension is displayed in the display field 600_b. In the display column 601_a, the vertical size of a standard large (Standard. Jumbo) barge is displayed, and in the display column 601_b, the horizontal size is displayed.

  Also, in the total size type 60n, not the number of barges, the horizontal dimension of the barge aggregate is displayed in the display column 60n_a, and the horizontal dimension is displayed in the display column 60n_b. . The buttons 600_c, 601_c,..., 60n_c are used to set which size barge is used, and the barge size of the selected button is used to create an aggregate frame image.

The input field 611 is a field for inputting the number of columns of the barge array (vertical array number) in the aggregate frame image, and the input field 612 is the number of rows of the barge array (horizontal array number) in the aggregate frame image. It is a column to input.
The display field 613 displays the size of the aggregate frame in the aggregate frame image.
For example, when the user clicks the button 600_c with the mouse and inputs “3” into the input field 611 from the operation unit 7 and “2” into the input field 612, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 causes the input field 612 to Data from 611 and 612 and the button 600_c are input.

  Then, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 reads out the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the barge stored in association with the information for identifying the button 600_c from the aggregate frame storage unit 14, and compares the barge with respect to the vertical dimension of the barge. Multiply “3” to determine the vertical dimension of the barge aggregate, and multiply the horizontal dimension of the barge by “2” to determine the horizontal dimension of the barge aggregate. Then, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 displays the calculated vertical dimension and horizontal dimension of the barge aggregate in the display field 613.

Next, a process for generating a new aggregate frame image according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process for generating an aggregate frame image of a new barge aggregate in the third embodiment.
Step S11:
The aggregate frame extraction unit 11 displays all the aggregate frame images registered in the aggregate frame storage unit 14 at the current time in the reference image display area on the display screen of the display unit 6. At this time, although not shown, the number of columns and rows of the barge constituting the barge aggregate and the size of the barge are also displayed for each aggregate frame image.

Step S12:
The user confirms the presence or absence of an aggregate frame image corresponding to the barge aggregate to be used from now on by confirming the aggregate frame image displayed in the reference image display area in the display unit 6.
When the user detects an aggregate frame image corresponding to the barge aggregate used this time from the aggregate frame images displayed in the reference image display area of the display unit 6, the process proceeds to step S14. On the other hand, when the aggregate frame image corresponding to the barge aggregate used this time is not detected in the aggregate frame image displayed in the reference image display area of the display unit 6, the user generates a new aggregate frame image. An input for starting the process is performed from the operation unit 7 to the radar apparatus 100, and the process proceeds to step S13.

Step S13:
Next, when the start of the process of generating a new aggregate frame image is input, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 displays the edit screen display area of the display screen in the display unit 6 as shown in FIG. A screen for performing a process for generating a new aggregate frame image is displayed.
As described above, the user selects one of the buttons 600_c to 600_n shown in the screen of FIG. 5A by clicking with the mouse, and selects each of the number of columns and rows of the barge in the barge aggregate. , Respectively, in the input fields 611 and 612 by the operation unit 7.

Then, if there is no problem by confirming the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the barge aggregate displayed in the display field 613 by the aggregate frame registration unit 13, the process of generating a new aggregate frame image from the operation unit 7 is terminated. Input is made to the radar apparatus 100.
When the end of this process is input, the aggregate frame registration unit 13 determines the size of the barge in the newly created aggregate frame image, the number of columns and rows of the barge, and the size of the barge aggregate. New identification information is added together with the aggregate frame image, and is written and stored in the aggregate frame storage unit 14.

Step S14:
Next, when the process proceeds from step S12, the frame display control unit 12 reads the aggregate frame image selected by the user from the aggregate frame storage unit 14 and displays it as the display shown in FIG. It is displayed in the edit screen display area of the display screen in section 6.
When the process proceeds from step S13, the frame display control unit 12 reads the aggregate frame image newly created by the user from the aggregate frame storage unit 14 as a display shown in FIG. The information is displayed in the edit screen display area of the display screen in the display unit 6.

Then, the frame display control unit 12 sets a reference line parallel to the bow direction of the ship in the aggregate frame image at a position where the user has moved the mark 504 of the adjustment bar 503 with a mouse or the like.
Next, the frame display control unit 12 converts the radar image displayed on the display surface of the display unit 6 into the barge aggregate image extracted by the aggregate frame extraction unit 11 by the processing already described in the first embodiment. On the other hand, the aggregate frame image is displayed in a superimposed manner.

As described above, the present embodiment generates an aggregate frame image using only the barge aggregate frame, regardless of the barge aggregate configuration in the barge aggregate that the ship pushes and carries the cargo, and the aggregate frame storage unit 14 Is stored.
For this reason, according to the present embodiment, the aggregate frames stored in the aggregate frame storage unit 14 are shared because the same aggregate frame is shared regardless of the barge connection configuration in the barge aggregate. The user can easily select the aggregate frame image corresponding to the barge aggregate connected to the ship, from the reference image display area.

  Further, a program for realizing the function of superimposing the aggregate frame image on the barge aggregate image and the function of generating a new aggregate frame image in the navigation support apparatus 1 in FIG. 1 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Then, the program recorded on the recording medium is read into the computer system and executed to control the processing of displaying the aggregate frame image of the ship and the connected barge on the radar image. May be. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.

Further, the “computer system” includes a homepage providing environment (or display environment) if a WWW system is used.
The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” dynamically holds a program for a short time like a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In this case, a volatile memory in a computer system serving as a server or a client in that case, and a program that holds a program for a certain period of time are also included. The program may be a program for realizing a part of the functions described above, and may be a program capable of realizing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes design and the like within a scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Navigation support device 2 ... Antenna control part 3 ... AD conversion part 4 ... Signal processing part 5 ... Display control part 6 ... Display part 7 ... Operation part 8 ... Sweep memory 9 ... Image memory 11 ... Aggregate frame extraction part 12 ... Frame display control unit 13 ... Aggregate frame registration unit 14 ... Aggregate frame storage unit 100 ... Radar device 200 ... Antenna device 201 ... Antenna unit 202 ... Transmission / reception control unit

Claims (6)

An aggregate frame storage unit in which a rectangular aggregate frame image surrounding a barge aggregate composed of barges connected to the ship is pre-written and stored;
A user selects an aggregate frame image, which is an image of the barge aggregate connected to the ship, from the aggregate frame storage unit, and the selected aggregate frame image is displayed on the display screen of the radar. A navigation support apparatus, comprising: a display control unit configured to display the barge aggregate image superimposed thereon. From the shape of the barge assembly fixed to the own ship detected by the radar, further comprising an assembly frame extraction unit that reads a plurality of the assembly frame images as candidates from the assembly frame storage unit,
The display control unit
The candidate is displayed on the display screen of the radar, and the aggregate frame image selected by the user from among the candidates is used as the aggregate frame image of the barge aggregate fixed to the ship. The navigation support device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation support device is displayed so as to overlap the image of the aggregate. In the aggregate frame storage unit, the aggregate frame images are stored in groups for each type of shape of the barge aggregate detected by the radar,
The aggregate frame extraction unit extracts, based on the shape of the barge aggregate detected by the radar, the aggregate frame image of a group corresponding to the shape as the candidate from the aggregate frame storage unit. The navigation support apparatus according to claim 2. An aggregate that edits the aggregate frame image by a generation process that inputs the number of horizontal arrays and the number of vertical arrays in the barge aggregate, and writes and stores the generated aggregate frame image in the aggregate frame storage unit The navigation support apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a frame registration unit. Aggregate frame registration in which the aggregate frame image is generated by the generation process of arranging the barges in a connected state in the barge aggregate, and the edited aggregate frame image is written and stored in the aggregate frame storage unit. The navigation support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a unit. From the shape of the barge aggregate composed of a plurality of barges connected to the ship, the aggregate frame extraction unit uses a rectangular aggregate frame image surrounding the plurality of barge aggregates as candidates based on the shape detected by the radar. An aggregate frame extraction process of reading from the aggregate frame storage unit in which the aggregate frame image is written and stored in advance,
The display control unit displays the candidates on the display screen of the radar, and sets the aggregate frame image selected by the user from the candidates as an aggregate frame of a barge aggregate fixed to the ship. A navigation control method comprising: a display control process for displaying the image on a barge aggregate on a display screen.

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