JP2017118308A - Vessel communication method, vessel, inter-vessel communication system, and vessel-to-land communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vessel communication method, a vessel, an inter-vessel communication system, and a vessel-to-land communication system that can improve the communication performance of a communication antenna by holding the altitude position of the communication antenna high and excluding an impact of oscillation of a vessel on the communication antenna.SOLUTION: A communication antenna 4 connected with communication apparatuses 2 mounted on vessels 1, 1A, 1B, 1C via a communication cable 3 is held or hung by aircrafts 7 (7a, 7b), and then the aircrafts 7 (7a, 7b) are floated in air. In the state of the communication antenna 4 kept above the vessels 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, communication between vessels and/or between a vessel and the land is performed by using the communication apparatuses 2 connected with the communication antenna 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a ship communication method, a ship, a communication system between ships, and a communication system between ship and land, and more particularly, holds the height position of the communication antenna high and shakes the ship with respect to the communication antenna. The present invention relates to a ship communication method, a ship, a communication system between ships, and a communication system ship between ship and land, which can improve the communication performance of a communication antenna.

  The communication antenna mounted on the ship is located as high as possible in order to improve the communication performance (communication distance, communication quality, etc.) in the communication between ships on the sea and between the land and the ship, especially in communication with strong directivity. It is important to install. Therefore, in a conventional ship, the communication antenna is installed at a high position such as a bridge or a mast.

  However, in a ship, since it is necessary to lower the center of gravity of the hull in order to ensure the stability of the hull, a structure such as a bridge or a mast cannot be built unnecessarily high. Therefore, the height position where the communication antenna can be installed is naturally limited by the size of the hull. Therefore, especially in a small ship, it was difficult to install the communication antenna at a high position. In addition, since the ship is shaken by the influence of waves, the communication antenna installed at a high position of the hull also moves greatly due to the shake of the hull. There was a problem that communication quality deteriorated.

  In particular, when the ship is small, these problems are important because the height of the ship's hull structure is low, and generally, the influence of the wave on the hull is large, and the ship's shake increases. It has become.

  As a method of installing the communication antenna at a high position, for example, a method of raising the communication antenna itself or a support supporting the communication antenna is conceivable, but in this case, the strength of the communication antenna or the support is a problem. Become. For example, it is possible to increase the strength of the communication antenna and prop by increasing the strength of the communication antenna and prop by forming the communication antenna and prop from a thick and sturdy material. As the center of gravity increases, wind resistance also increases, and the wind pressure center is at a high position, affecting the attitude and movement of the hull. Therefore, it is difficult to adopt a method of lengthening the communication antenna itself.

  In this regard, in the prior art, for example, as a device that maintains the communication quality of the communication antenna against the shaking of a ship such as in a wave, the directivity that is the angle formed by the maximum directionality in the vertical plane and the horizontal plane. An antenna support device for a ship radar apparatus has been proposed that makes it possible to adjust the elevation angle of the antenna and compensate for the maximum vertical in-plane directivity direction corresponding to the inclination of the ship. , See Patent Document 1).

  In addition, it is equipped with a control device that controls the attitude of the support unit that supports the rotational operation device that rotates the radar antenna about the vertical axis in response to the shaking of the ship such as in the waves, and the radar antenna is installed in the horizontal plane. A marine radar device that can reliably recognize the position or direction of an object has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  However, in these radar devices, the communication quality of the communication antenna (radar antenna) can be maintained. However, the communication antenna support device is not affected by the vibration of the vessel. However, the above-described problem caused by arranging the communication antenna at a high position cannot be solved.

JP 2006-311187 A JP 2006-329736

  The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and its purpose is to maintain the communication antenna high regardless of the ship's hull structure, and to eliminate the influence of the ship's shaking and to shake the communication antenna. By preventing the communication performance of the communication antenna can be improved. The object is to provide a ship communication method, a ship, a communication system between ships, and a communication system between ship and land.

  The ship communication method of the present invention for achieving the above object is to hold or suspend a communication antenna connected to a communication device mounted on a ship with a flying object, and float the flying object in the air. The communication antenna is maintained above the ship, and communication is performed using the communication device to which the communication antenna is connected.

  According to this method, the flying antenna holding or hanging the communication antenna is levitated in the air, so that the communication antenna can be arranged at a high position and the position can be maintained. Further, since the communication antenna is not affected by the fluctuation of the ship, the fluctuation of the communication antenna is reduced, and the communication performance of the communication antenna can be improved. As a result, it is possible to improve communication accuracy between ships and / or between land and ship and extend the communicable distance.

  In addition, the meaning of “communication antenna” communication here is broad and includes not only two-way conversations but also one-way and two-way communication. The types of communication antennas include radar antennas in addition to transmitting antennas, receiving antennas and transmitting / receiving antennas. Note that when using communication means with strong directivity, it is important to maintain the height of the communication antenna and the direction of the communication antenna, so that the effect of the present invention is particularly great.

  In addition, the communication antenna is not limited to one in a single flying body, and a plurality of communication antennas may be held, and one or a plurality of antennas may be held by not only a single flying body but also a plurality of flying bodies.

  The ship of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a communication device, a communication antenna connected to the communication device with a communication cable, and holding or suspending the communication antenna to float in the air. And a flying body that maintains the communication antenna above the ship in a state of being in a closed state.

  According to this configuration, the flying object holding or suspending the communication antenna is levitated in the air to place the communication antenna at a high position and maintain the position. Further, since the communication antenna is not affected by the fluctuation of the ship, the fluctuation of the communication antenna is reduced, and the communication performance of the communication antenna can be improved. As a result, it is possible to improve communication accuracy between ships and / or between land and ship and extend the communicable distance.

  Further, in the above-mentioned ship, the flying object is provided with a power feeding device for the flying object, and a power feeding cable for connecting the power feeding device and the flying object, and is levitated in the air by the power feeding cable. If it is configured to supply power to the battery, the following effects can be exhibited.

  In other words, it is possible to continuously supply power to the flying object from the power supply device provided on the ship while the flying object is levitated in the air, so that the flying object and the communication antenna can be levitated in the air for a long time. Become. Further, in the case of a flying object that floats by power, it is not necessary to provide a charging facility on the flying object side for storing electrical energy required for the flying object to levitate in the air. Even if a charging facility is provided, only a small capacity is required. Therefore, the flying body can be significantly reduced in weight.

  As a result, the flying object and the ship are also connected by a power supply (power) cable that is thicker than a communication cable formed by a communication wire or an optical fiber for optical communication. Therefore, since the aircraft and the ship are connected with a relatively thick and sturdy cable, the possibility of cable breakage can be significantly reduced, and this cable can be used even when the aircraft has failed. It is possible to reliably and promptly collect the flying object on the ship by handing it over.

  Further, in the above-described ship, the ship includes a relay flying body that holds the cable connecting the communication device and the communication antenna at a midway portion between the flying body and the communication device, and the communication antenna is used by the flying body. If the relay flying body is configured to hold or suspend the middle part of the cable in the air when maintaining the ship above the ship, the following effects can be exhibited.

  That is, part or all of the weight of the cable can be borne by the relay flying object, so that the load applied to the flying object due to external force such as the weight of the cable and wind force applied to the cable can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to arrange and maintain a longer cable in the air by both the aircraft and the relay aircraft, and to maintain the position by arranging the communication antenna at a higher position with the cable connected. it can. Thereby, the communication performance of a communication antenna can be improved more, and the improvement of the communication precision between ships and / or ship-and-land and extension of the communicable distance can be aimed at more effectively.

  In the above-mentioned ship, the flying object acquires its own positional information, its own orientation information, and its own position information, etc., and its own positional information acquired from this positional information, etc. The following effects can be exhibited if the apparatus is provided with autonomous flight control means for automatically maneuvering the flying object according to the azimuth information and the attitude information of itself.

  In other words, since the flying object can fly autonomously, it is possible to reduce the labor of the manager required to control the flying object. Further, by providing the position information etc. acquisition means, the flying object holding or hanging the communication antenna is moved to a position suitable for improving the communication performance of the communication antenna, and further, the direction of the flying object Since the communication antenna can be pointed in the optimum communication direction regardless of the direction of the ship, it is remarkably advantageous to improve the communication performance of the communication antenna.

  As a flying object equipped with this autonomous flight control means, helicopters, multicopters, balloons, etc. that can fly and move using propulsion by a propeller, etc., and control their own position, direction, and attitude Can be adopted.

  In the above-mentioned ship, the flying object floats by its own buoyancy, floats by using wind power without using its own energy, and levitated by power using its own energy. Any one of the powered aircraft.

  Although many flying objects can be considered as this flying object, there are balloons, balloons, airships, etc. that can stay in the air by their own buoyancy as levitation flying objects that float by their own buoyancy. Further, examples of wind vehicles flying using wind power include kites and gliders. Further, examples of a power vehicle that is levitated by power using its own energy include an airplane, a helicopter having two or less rotor blades, and a multicopter having three or more rotor blades.

  In any case, since it is important that the ship stays above the ship for a long time, a flying object that can fly or levitate in a long flight time is preferable. In addition, the moving ability that can follow the movement of the ship is not so necessary when the communication antenna is used only when the ship is stopped, but it is more preferable that the moving ability is available so that it can be used even when the ship is moving.

  And the communication system between the ships of this invention for achieving said objective communicates between ships using said ship. Accordingly, at least one ship that performs communication performs communication between ships in a state where the flying object holding or hanging the communication antenna is levitated in the air and the communication antenna is disposed and maintained in the air. Therefore, it is possible to communicate using a communication antenna at a high position without being affected by the fluctuation of the ship and with a little fluctuation, thereby improving the communication accuracy between ships and extending the communicable distance. Can be planned.

  The ship-land communication system of the present invention for achieving the above object performs communication between the ship and a land communication base. As a result, at least one ship that carries out communication can carry out communication between ship and land in a state where the flying object holding or hanging the communication antenna is levitated in the air and the communication antenna is placed and maintained in the air. Because it is possible to communicate using the communication antenna at a high position without being affected by the fluctuation of the ship, the communication accuracy between the ship and the land can be improved. Can be extended.

  According to the ship communication method, the ship, the ship-to-ship communication system, and the ship-to-land communication system of the present invention, the communication antenna is placed at a high position by levitating the flying object holding or hanging the communication antenna in the air. To maintain the position. Further, since the communication antenna is not affected by the fluctuation of the ship, the fluctuation of the communication antenna is reduced, and the communication performance of the communication antenna can be improved. As a result, it is possible to improve communication accuracy between ships and / or between land and ship and extend the communicable distance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the communication method of the ship which concerns on embodiment of this invention, a ship, the communication system between ships, and the communication system between ship and land. It is an enlarged view which shows typically the structure of the ship of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the fluctuation in the wave of the ship of FIG. It is an enlarged view which shows typically the structure of the ship of 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is an enlarged view which shows typically the structure of the ship of 3rd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is an enlarged view which shows typically the structure of the ship of 4th Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the communication base of a ship different from the conventional ship, and a land.

  Hereinafter, a ship communication method, a ship, a communication system between ships, and a communication system between ship and land according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a ship 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a communication device 2 and a communication antenna (floating in the air) connected to the communication device 2 with a communication cable 3. Communication antenna) 4 and a flying body 7 that holds or suspends the communication antenna 4 and maintains the communication antenna 4 above the ship 1 in a state of being levitated in the air. The ship 1 further includes a reel unit 11 that winds up the communication cable 3.

  The communication device 2 is a variety of communication devices used when performing communication between ships and / or between ship and land. Specifically, for example, a digital selective calling device (DSC), a radio telephone, a narrowband direct communication, and the like. Printing telegraph (NBDP), wireless LAN transceiver, etc.

  The communication cable 3 is various cables used for communication, and specifically, for example, an AE cable, a CCP cable, an optical fiber cable, an optical power composite cable, and the like. However, it is desirable to use a lightweight and strong cable.

  The communication antenna 4 can be any of a transmission antenna, a reception antenna, and a transmission / reception antenna. Specifically, for example, a wire antenna, a whip antenna, a dipole antenna, a parabolic antenna, a slot array, and the like. Antennas, loop antennas and the like. Further, it may be a radar antenna.

  The flying object 7 is a floating flying object that floats by its own buoyancy, a wind flying object that floats by using wind power without using its own energy, a powered flying object that floats by using its own energy, etc. Can be configured.

  Specifically, the floating flying object that floats by its own buoyancy includes balloons, balloons, airships, and the like that can stay in the air by its own buoyancy. Further, examples of wind vehicles flying using wind power include kites and gliders. Further, examples of a power vehicle that is levitated by power using its own energy include an airplane having a fixed wing, a helicopter having two or less rotors, and a multicopter having three or more rotors.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flying object 7 in the first embodiment is composed of a floating flying object 7a made of a gas balloon. One or a plurality of (two in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3) communication antennas 4 are connected to the side surface of the flying object 7, and one end of a communication cable 3 is connected to the communication antenna 4. The other end of the communication cable 3 is connected to the communication device 2 installed on the upper deck 1a of the ship 1 via the reel unit 11 attached to the communication device 2, the upper deck 1a, and the like.

  By extending and winding up the communication cable 3 by the reel unit 11, the length of the communication cable 3 between the communication device 2 and the communication antennas 4 and 4 can be changed.

  That is, the flying object 7 and the communication antenna 4 are connected and integrated, and the integrated flying object 7 and communication antenna 4 and the communication device 2 installed in the ship 1 are connected to the reel unit 11. Are connected via a communication cable 3 whose feeding length can be changed.

  Next, the communication method by this ship 1 is demonstrated, referring FIGS. 1-3. In the following description, the floating vehicle 7a (aircraft 7) is in a state of performing communication using the communication device 2 from the state where the floating vehicle 7a is placed on the upper deck 1a of the ship 1, and the communication is terminated and the vehicle is suspended. A process until the flying object 7a is collected on the upper deck 1a will be described.

  First, buoyancy is generated in the flying object 7, and the floating flying object 7a and the communication antenna 4 held by the floating flying object 7a are levitated in the air. In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, buoyancy is generated by injecting helium gas into a floating flying object 7a made of a gas balloon. Next, while gradually rolling out the communication cable 3 wound around and stored in the reel unit 11, the floating flying object 7a is levitated until the communication antenna 4 is positioned at a height suitable for communication. When it is located at a height suitable for communication, the reel unit 11 stops feeding the communication cable 3. Then, between the ships (for example, between the ship 1 and another ship 1 or between the ship 1 and another ship 20) using the communication device 2 in a state where the floating flying object 7 a and the communication antenna 4 are levitated in the air. Between the ship 1 and the ship (for example, between the ship 1 and the land-based communication base 30). In addition, although it changes with the communication apparatuses 2 and the communication antenna 4 to employ | adopt, the height H from the water surface at the time of levitating the communication antenna 4 to the front-end | tip of the communication antenna 4 is 5-100 m, for example.

  That is, in this ship 1, the communication antenna 4 connected to the communication device 2 mounted on the ship 1 is held or suspended by the floating flying object 7a (flying object 7), and the floating flying object 7a is levitated in the air. Thus, the communication antenna 4 is maintained above the ship 1 and communication is performed using the communication device 2 to which the communication antenna 4 is connected.

  When the communication is continued or when the communication can be performed, the floating flying object 7a and the communication antenna 4 are continuously levitated into the air. Further, when it is desired to change the height position H at which the communication antenna 4 floats and the direction of the communication antenna 4, the reel unit 11 is operated to change the extension length of the communication cable 3.

  When it is not necessary to perform communication, the reel unit 11 is operated to wind up the communication cable 3, and the communication cable 3 is gradually shortened to communicate with the floating flying object 7a. The antenna 4 is pulled down to a height that can be recovered by a worker or a recovery device. Then, the floating flying object 7a and the communication antenna 4 are collected on the upper deck 1a.

  As described above, according to the ship 1 of the first embodiment, the floating antenna 7a that holds or suspends the communication antenna 4 is levitated in the air to place the communication antenna 4 at a high position and maintain the position. can do. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, by placing the communication antenna 4 in the air, the communication antenna 4 is not affected by the shake of the ship 1, so that the shake of the communication antenna 4 is reduced, and the communication antenna 4 Communication performance can be improved. As a result, it is possible to improve communication accuracy between ships and / or between land and ship and extend the communicable distance.

This is particularly effective when the ship 1 is small. That is, if the ship 1 is small, the height of the hull structure is low, and generally, the influence of the wave on the hull fluctuation is large, and the fluctuation of the ship 1 becomes large. Therefore, in the conventional fixed communication antenna 4X, it is difficult to increase the height H ₀ from the water surface to the fixed communication antenna 4X. Further, since the fixed communication antenna 4X is shaken with the shake of the ship 1, the communication performance may be deteriorated in the waves.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, it is difficult to improve the communication performance of the communication antenna 4X in the conventional ship 1X having only the fixed communication antenna 4X. On the other hand, in this ship 1, since the communication antenna 4 is levitated in the air by the flying object 7, the communication antenna 4 can be maintained in a state that is not easily shaken at a high position, so that the communication performance is high even in waves. Can be maintained at a level.

  Furthermore, the communication antenna 4 can be disposed at a high position without reducing the restoring force and propulsion performance of the ship 1 while maintaining the center of gravity of the ship 1 at a low position. In addition, the communication antenna 4 can be quickly arranged at a high position only when communication is performed by the communication device 2, and when there is no need to perform communication by the communication device 2, the communication antenna 4 is stored inside the ship 1. Can be kept. Therefore, it is not necessary to always keep the communication antenna 4 exposed to wind and rain. Therefore, deterioration of the communication antenna 4 can be suppressed, and the communication performance can be maintained at a high level for a long time with the same communication antenna 4.

  In this embodiment, since the flying object 7 is constituted by the floating flying object 7a that can stay in the air by its own buoyancy, no electrical energy is required to levitate the flying object 7 in the air. . Therefore, it is excellent in energy saving. Moreover, since the floating flying object 7a can be levitated in the air even in a windless state, it is particularly effective when the communication antenna 4 is levitated in the air continuously for a long time.

  Furthermore, since the ship 1 is provided with the reel portion 11, the length of the cable 3 for communication is extended for changing the height positions of the floating flying object 7a and the communication antenna 4 and for collecting the flying object 7 and the communication antenna 4. It can be done with the simple task of changing. Therefore, even an administrator who does not have expertise can easily carry out, and the cost required for equipment is very small.

  In addition, since the length of the cable 3 for communication can be adjusted to an appropriate length by operating the reel unit 11, the communication cable 3 can be prevented from being excessively slackened. it can. Therefore, even when the wind is blowing, the communication cable 3 can be prevented from violating, and the load applied to the flying object 7 by the wind force applied to the communication cable 3 can be reduced. In addition, the possibility of the cable 3 for communication becoming tangled can be reduced.

  When the flying object 7 is configured by the floating flying object 7a as in the first embodiment, the ship 1 is moved with the floating flying object 7a and the communication antenna 4 levitated in the air. The floating flying object 7a is pulled by the communication cable 3 so that the floating flying object 7a can track the ship 1 even when the floating flying object 7a itself does not have a propulsion mechanism that generates a horizontal thrust. However, the floating flying object 7a can be moved by itself by providing a propulsion mechanism for generating a propulsive force in the horizontal direction on the floating flying object 7a.

  If the propulsion mechanism is provided in the floating flying object 7a, it is not necessary to pull the floating flying object 7a by the communication cable 3, so that the load (tensile force) generated between the floating flying object 7a and the communication cable 3 can be reduced. For this reason, the floating flying object 7a and the communication cable 3 are more likely to fail. Further, even when the ship 1 is navigating or when the wind is blowing, it is possible to prevent the floating flying object 7a from being swept away by the wind by generating a propulsive force so as to face the wind force. .

  In the first embodiment, the height of the floating flying body 7a and the communication antenna 4 is controlled by changing the extension length of the communication cable 3 by the reel unit 11, but the floating position is controlled. The height position of the floating flying object 7a and the communication antenna 4 can be controlled by changing the magnitude of the buoyancy of the flying object 7a.

  For example, the case where the floating flying object 7a is a gas balloon using helium will be described as an example. When the height position of the floating flying object 7a and the communication antenna 4 is maintained, the buoyancy and floating flight of the floating flying object 7a are maintained. When adjusting the internal volume of helium so that the downward load applied to the body 7a antagonizes and changing the height position of the floating flying body 7a and the communication antenna 4, the internal volume of helium is increased or decreased. As a result, the floating body 7a is moved up and down by changing the size of the floating body 7a.

  Next, a ship 1A according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the ship 1A, the flying object 7 is composed of a power flying object 7b composed of a multicopter having three or more rotor blades. One communication antenna 4 is erected on the upper part of the power vehicle 7b.

  This flying object 7 includes position information acquisition means 8 for acquiring own position information, own direction information and own posture information, own position information acquired from the position information acquisition means 8, and own direction information. And autonomous flight control means 9 for automatically maneuvering the power vehicle 7b according to its own attitude information.

  Further, the power vehicle 7b automatically controls the power vehicle 7b so as to follow the ship 1A by detecting the relative position between the ship 1A and the power vehicle 7b when the ship 1A moves. The automatic follow-up means 10 is provided.

  In the second embodiment, the input device 12 is provided in the power vehicle 7b or the communication device 2 of the ship 1A, and the position information (the height position, horizontal position, etc. of the communication antenna 4) is provided in the input device 12. ) -Directional information (direction in which the communication antenna 4 is directed, etc.)-Attitude information (an angle at which the communication antenna 4 is tilted, etc.) is input, and the position information etc. acquiring means 8 and the autonomous flight control means 9 are used to transmit the power vehicle 7b The antenna 4 can be automatically controlled so as to have the position, orientation, and attitude of the input. In addition, the input device 12 is configured so that the automatic follower 10 can be used to automatically follow the ship 1A and the power vehicle 7b can be switched from automatic operation to manual operation by an administrator. Yes.

  The ship 1A further includes a power supply device 5 for the power vehicle 7b, and a power supply cable 6 that connects the power supply device 5 and the power vehicle 7b. Power is supplied to the powered flying vehicle 7b in the levitated state.

  In this embodiment, the communication cable 3 and the power supply cable 6 are bundled to form a single cable (hereinafter, bundled cables 3, 6). It is the structure which can change the feeding length of 6. The communication device 2 and the power feeding device 5 are also installed together in one place.

  In the second embodiment, the position information, the azimuth information, and the posture information acquired by the power vehicle 7 b by the position information etc. acquiring means 8 are transmitted to the reel unit 11, so that the reel unit 11 receives the position information. In conjunction with the information acquired by the equal acquisition means 8, the feeding length of the binding cables 3 and 6 suitable for the position, orientation, and posture of the power vehicle 7 b and the communication antenna 7 is automatically controlled. That is, in this embodiment, the power vehicle 7b and the reel unit 11 are automatically controlled according to the input instruction of the input device 12.

  Next, the communication method by this ship 1A is demonstrated, referring FIG. 1 and FIG. In addition, in the following description, the case where it communicates using the communication apparatus 2 from the state which made the power vehicle 7b stand by on the upper deck 1a of the ship 1 is illustrated.

  First, position information, azimuth information, and posture information when the communication antenna 4 is placed in the sky are input to the input device 12. Then, electric energy is fed from the power feeding device 5 to the power flying vehicle 7b through the power feeding cable 6, and the power flying vehicle 7b and the communication antenna 4 start to rise in the air. The power vehicle 7b and the communication antenna 4 are automatically lifted up to the position input to the input device 12 by autopilot, and automatically arrive at the input position so as to be in the direction and posture input while hovering at the position. Be maneuvered.

  At this time, the reel unit 11 is configured to bind the cable 3, 6 according to the position / orientation / posture of the power vehicle 7 b and the communication antenna 4 so that the tensile force of the cable 3, 6 does not act on the power vehicle 7 b. Automatically controls the feeding length. Specifically, immediately before the power vehicle 7b rises so that the power vehicle 7b7 can float in a stable state without the tensile force of the binding cables 3 and 6 acting on the power vehicle 7b. Then, the bundling cables 3 and 6 are drawn out to be in a slack state. In a state where the power flying vehicle 7b and the communication antenna 4 are levitated in the air, while securing a slight slack so that the tensile force of the binding cables 3, 6 does not act on the power flying vehicle 7b, the binding cable 3, The unwinding length of the binding cables 3 and 6 is adjusted as short as possible so that the cable 6 is not exposed to the influence of the wind. And communication is performed between ships and / or ship-and-land using the communication apparatus 2 in the state which levitated this power flying body 7b and the communication antenna 4 in the air.

  When continuing communication or maintaining a state where communication is possible, the power vehicle 7b and the communication antenna 4 are continuously levitated into the air. Further, when it is desired to change the position (the height position or horizontal position where the communication antenna 4 is levitated), the azimuth, and the attitude, new information is input to the input device 12 to automatically control the power vehicle 7b. When moving the ship 1A, it is set to automatically follow the ship 1A.

  When it is no longer necessary to perform communication, information on the landing point is input to the input device 12, and the power vehicle 7b and the communication antenna 4 are landed on the ship 1A. Alternatively, the power vehicle 7b and the communication antenna 4 are lowered until the height can be recovered and recovered on the ship 1 by a worker or a recovery device. The operation of the power vehicle 7b and the reel unit 11 described above may be operated by an administrator by switching to manual operation.

  As described above, in this embodiment, since the flying object 7 is constituted by the powered flying object 7b that floats by the power using its own energy, the powered flying object 7b is arranged in the height direction and in the horizontal direction. Can also be moved freely. Moreover, since the power vehicle 7b is excellent in operability, it is advantageous when it is desired to change the position and orientation of the communication antenna 4 or when communication is performed while the ship is moved. In particular, if the power vehicle 7b is composed of a multicopter having three or more rotor blades, the position and orientation of the communication antenna 4 can be controlled with high accuracy and can be hovered at a fixed position. This is further advantageous for improving the communication performance of the communication antenna 4.

  Further, since the ship 1A includes the power feeding device 5 and the power feeding cable 6, power feeding from the power feeding device 5 included in the ship 1A to the power flying object 7b is continued in a state where the power flying object 7b is levitated in the air. You can do it. Therefore, the power vehicle 7b and the communication antenna 4 can be levitated in the air continuously for a long time. Furthermore, there is no need to provide a charging facility on the side of the power vehicle 7b for storing electrical energy required for the power vehicle 7b to levitate in the air. Even if a charging facility is provided, only a small capacity is required. Therefore, the power vehicle 7b can be significantly reduced in weight.

  As a result, the power vehicle 7b and the ship 1A are also connected by the power supply (power) cable 6 which is thicker than the communication cable 3, so that the power vehicle 7b breaks down. Therefore, even when the vehicle cannot be operated, the power flying vehicle 7b can be reliably and promptly collected on the ship 1A.

  Further, the ship 1A has a configuration in which the power flying body 7b includes the position information acquisition means 8 and the autonomous flight control means 9, and the power flying body 7b can fly autonomously. It is possible to reduce the labor of the administrator required to control the system. Further, by providing the position information etc. acquiring means 8, the power vehicle 7b holding or hanging the communication antenna 4 can be moved to a position suitable for improving the communication performance of the communication antenna 4, or By controlling to change the direction of the power vehicle 7b, the communication antenna 4 can be directed in the optimum communication direction regardless of the direction of the ship 1A, so the communication performance of the communication antenna 4 is improved. This is a significant advantage.

  The power flying vehicle 7b provided with the autonomous flight control means 9 is a helicopter or multicopter that can fly and move using propulsive force from a propeller or the like to control its own position, direction, and attitude. A balloon or the like can be employed.

  Further, in the second embodiment, since the power vehicle 7b is provided with the automatic follow-up control means 10 that can automatically follow the ship 1A, the power vehicle 7b is automatically operated even when the ship 1A is moving. It becomes possible to run in. Therefore, the power vehicle 7b and the communication antenna 4 can always be maintained within a predetermined distance range of the ship 1A, and the power vehicle 7b automatically holds the position, so that the power vehicle 7b can be used to move the ship 1A. It is possible to reduce the labor of the manager required for the control to keep track of the predetermined distance.

  Further, since the ship 1A is configured to automatically control the reel unit 11 according to the information of the acquisition means 8 such as the position information of the power vehicle 7b, even when the power vehicle 7b moves by autonomous flight, It is possible to automatically adjust the extended lengths of the bundling cables 3 and 6 between the communication antenna 4 and the communication device 2 to an appropriate extended length as short as possible with a certain amount of slack. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the load applied to the power vehicle 7b due to the external force such as wind force applied to the binding cables 3 and 6, and it is possible to fly the power vehicle 7b in a more stable state. Further, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the bundling cables 3 and 6 are disturbed by the influence of the wind and the communication cable 3 is entangled.

  Next, a ship 1B according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The ship 1B has a configuration in which a relay flying object 13 is further added to the ship 1A of the second embodiment shown in FIG. In the ship 1 </ b> B, one communication antenna 4 is suspended below the flying object 7. Other configurations are the same as those of the ship 1A of the second embodiment.

  The relay flying object 13 is a flying object that holds the communication cable 3 and / or the power feeding cable 6 for connecting the communication device 2 and the communication antenna 4 in the middle part between the flying object 7 and the communication device 2. Yes, similar to the flying object 7, for example, a floating flying object that floats by its own buoyancy, a wind flying object that floats by using wind power without using its own energy, and power by using its own energy It can be composed of a floating power vehicle.

  In other words, the relay flying object 10 is levitated in the air together with the flying object 7 while the relay flying object 13 is directly or indirectly connected to the communication cable 3 and / or the power supply cable 6. The intermediate part of the state communication cable 3 and / or the power supply cable 6 can be held in the air by the relay flying object.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the power flying object 7 b is used as the flying object 7 and the relay flying object 13 is also used as the relay flying object 7 b, but the floating flying object 7 a may be used as the flying object 7, A relay flying vehicle 13 a may be used as the relay vehicle 13. Moreover, although the ship 1B is configured to include one relay flying object 13, it may be configured to include two or more relay flying objects 13. Further, the connection method between the relay flying object 13 and the communication cable 3 and / or the power supply cable 6 is not limited to the following method.

  The relay aircraft 13 shown in FIG. 5 is configured by a relay power aircraft 13b made of a multicopter. More specifically, a through hole having a size through which the communication cable 3 and the power supply cable 6 (hereinafter, the bundled cables 3 and 6) pass is formed in the central portion of the relay power vehicle 13b. The binding cables 3 and 6 are in a state of penetrating through holes formed in the relay power vehicle 13b.

  And the fastener which can connect the binding cables 3 and 6 removably is provided in the through-hole, and the binding cables 3 and 6 are hold | maintained by this fastener. In the upper part of the through hole, a rigid cover portion 14 is provided to prevent the binding cables 3 and 6 from falling down so as to surround the outside of the binding cables 3 and 6. Also, the bundling cables 3 and 6 are configured so as not to come into contact with the rotor blades of the relay power vehicle 13b.

  Similarly to the power vehicle 7b, the relay power vehicle 13b is also configured to be able to supply power from the power supply device 5 through the power supply cable 6, and the relay power vehicle 13b is also connected to the power vehicle 7b. Similarly, a position information acquisition unit 8, an autonomous flight control unit 9, and an automatic follow-up control unit 10 are provided, and can be automatically controlled by the input device 12.

  The ship 1B performs communication by the same method as the ship 1A of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. However, in the ship 1B, the vehicle 7 holding the communication antenna 4 (power vehicle 7b) and the relay vehicle 13 holding the bundling cables 3 and 6 (relay power vehicle 13b) are levitated in the air. The communication device 2 is used to communicate between ships and / or between ship and land. When the communication antenna 4 is levitated above the ship 1B, the flying object 7 is preferably levitated to some extent and then the relay flying object 13 is levitated.

  As described above, the ship 1B includes the relay flying body 13 and has a configuration in which the intermediate portions of the binding cables 3 and 6 are held in the air by the relay flying body 13, so that part or all of the weight of the cable is relayed. It can be borne by the body 13. As a result, the weight applied to the flying object 7 due to the weight of the binding cables 3 and 6 and the external force such as wind force applied to the binding cables 3 and 6 can be reduced. Accordingly, both the flying body 7 and the relay flying body 13 allow the longer binding cables 3 and 6 to be arranged and maintained in the air, and the communication antenna 4 is positioned higher when the binding cables 3 and 6 are connected. To maintain the position. Thereby, the communication performance of the communication antenna 4 can be improved more, the improvement of the communication precision between ships and / or ship-and-land and extension of the communicable distance can be aimed at more effectively.

  Next, a ship 1C according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the ship 1 </ b> C, the communication antenna 4 is not directly connected to the flying object 7, but the communication antenna 4 is connected to the installation table 15, the installation table 15 is connected to the flying object 7, and the installation table 15 is connected by the flying object 7. By levitation in the air, the communication antenna 4 is maintained above the ship 1C. In the configuration of FIG. 6, the power flying object 7 b is used as the flying object 7, and the relay flying object 13 a is used as the relay flying object 13, but the floating object 7 a may be used as the flying object 7. It is also possible to use a relay power vehicle 13b as the relay vehicle 13.

  More specifically, one end portion of each of the three suspension members 16 is connected to each of the three directions of the installation base 15 on which the three communication antennas 4 are erected, and the other end portion of each suspension member 16 is Each is connected to a total of three flying bodies 7 composed of a powered flying body 7b made of a multicopter. A communication cable 3 is connected to the communication antenna 4, and a power supply cable 6 is connected to each aircraft 7. The communication cable 3 and the power supply cable 6 are respectively connected to the communication device 2 and the power supply device 5 installed on the upper deck 1a of the ship 1C.

  Note that the communication cable 3 and the power supply cable 6 are bundled in the middle to be bundled into one cable (hereinafter, bundling cables 3 and 6), and the reels attached to the communication device 2 and the power supply device 5. The length of the bundled cables 3 and 6 can be changed by the portion 11. Further, in the middle of the binding cables 3, 6, two relay aircrafts 13 each composed of a floating air vehicle 13 a for relay consisting of gas balloons are provided at intervals. Is in a state in which the binding cables 3 and 6 are held and held by the arm 17 protruding from the relay flying body 13.

  Even in the ship 1C, communication is performed by the same method as the ship 1B in the third embodiment shown in FIG. However, in the ship 1C, the communication antenna 4 is maintained in the sky by suspending the installation table 15 in the air by the three flying bodies 7. Then, the position / orientation / posture of the communication antenna 4 is changed by relatively changing the position / orientation / posture of the three flying bodies 7.

  Although not shown in the above embodiment, it is also possible to configure the flying body 7 with a wind flying body that floats using wind power such as a kite or glider. Since the wind vehicle does not require electrical energy to levitate the flying object 7 in the air, the wind vehicle is excellent in energy saving. Further, since the wind vehicle can be swung quickly in the sky, it is effective when it is desired to move the communication antenna 4 over a wide range in a short time.

  Next, a communication system between ships according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. This communication system between ships uses the above-mentioned ship 1 (1A, 1B, 1C), ship 1 (1A, 1B, 1C) and ship 1 (1A, 1B, 1C), or ship 1 (1A, 1C, 1B, 1C) and the other ship 20 communicate with each other. Thereby, at least one ship 1 (1A, 1B, 1C) that performs communication levitates the flying object 7 holding or hanging the communication antenna 4 in the air, and arranges the communication antenna 4 in the air. Since communication between ships is performed in a maintained state, communication can be performed using the communication antenna 4 at a high position without being affected by the fluctuation of the ship 1 (1A, 1B, 1C). As a result, it is possible to improve communication accuracy between ships and extend the communicable distance.

  Next, a communication system between ship and land according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. This ship-land communication system performs communication between the ship 1 (1A, 1B, 1C) and the communication base 30 on land. Thereby, at least one ship 1 (1A, 1B, 1C) that performs communication levitates the flying object 7 holding or hanging the communication antenna 4 in the air, and arranges the communication antenna 4 in the air. Because communication between ship and land is performed in a maintained state, communication can be performed using a communication antenna at a high position with little fluctuation without being affected by the fluctuation of the ship. The communication accuracy can be improved and the communicable distance can be extended.

  As described above, according to the ship communication method, the ship 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, the communication system between ships, and the communication system between ship and land according to the embodiment of the present invention, the communication antenna 4 is held. Alternatively, the communication antenna 4 can be arranged at a high position by keeping the suspended flying body 7 levitated in the air and the position can be maintained. Further, since the communication antenna 4 is not affected by the fluctuations of the ships 1, 1A, 1B, and 1C, the fluctuations of the communication antenna 4 are reduced and the communication performance of the communication antenna 4 can be improved. As a result, the communication accuracy between the ships 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 20 and / or between the ships 1, 1A, 1B, 1C and the land 30 can be improved and the communicable distance can be extended. Can be planned.

  In the present invention, the type of the communication antenna 4, the connection position of the communication antenna 4 to the flying object 7, the connection method, and the number of bases to be connected are not limited to the above-described embodiment. That is, for example, a configuration in which three or more communication antennas 4 are held or suspended on one flying body 7 may be adopted. Moreover, you may make it the structure which hold | maintains or hang | suspends one communication antenna 4 not only with one but with the several flight body 7. FIG.

  In the ships 1A to 1C of the second to fourth embodiments described above, the flying object 7 is provided with the position information etc. acquiring means 8, the autonomous flight control means 9, and the automatic follow-up control means 10. However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration including the position information etc. acquiring means 8, the autonomous flight control means 9, and the automatic follow-up control means 10 on the ship 1 (1A, 1B, 1C) side. In this case, for example, it is possible to implement by providing a sensor capable of detecting the position / orientation / attitude of the flying object 7 and the relay flying object 10 on the ship 1 side. In addition, the installation locations of the communication device 2, the power feeding device 5, the reel unit 11, and the input unit 12 are not limited to the embodiment described above, and can be arranged at various locations on the ship 1.

1, 1A, 1B, 1C Ship 1X Conventional ship 1a Upper deck 2 Communication equipment 3 Communication cable 4 Communication antenna (communication antenna levitating in the air)
4X Fixed communication antenna 5 Power supply device 6 Power supply cable 7 Aircraft 7a Floating vehicle (gas balloon)
7b Power vehicle (multicopter)
8 Position information acquisition means 9 Autonomous flight control means 10 Automatic follow-up control means 11 Reel part 12 Input means 13 Relay flying object 13a Floating flying object (gas balloon)
13b Power vehicle (multicopter)
14 Rigid Cover 15 Installation Base 16 Suspension Member 17 Arm 20 Another Ship 30 Land Communication Base

Claims (8)

  A communication antenna connected to a communication device mounted on a ship is held or suspended by a flying object, and the flying object is levitated in the air to maintain the communication antenna above the ship. A communication method for a ship, characterized in that communication is performed using the communication device to which is connected.   A communication device, a communication antenna connected to the communication device with a communication cable, and a flying body that holds or hangs the communication antenna and keeps the communication antenna above the ship in a state of floating in the air A ship characterized by comprising:   A power supply device for the flying object and a power supply cable for connecting the power supply device and the flying object are provided, and power is supplied to the flying object in a state of being levitated in the air by the power supply cable. The ship according to claim 2, wherein the ship is configured as follows.   A relay vehicle that holds the cable connecting the communication device and the communication antenna in a midway portion between the vehicle and the communication device, and the communication antenna is maintained above the ship by the aircraft; 4. The ship according to claim 2, wherein the relay flying body is configured to hold or suspend a midway part of the cable in the air.   The flying object acquires its own position information, its own azimuth information, and its position information, etc., and its own position information, its own azimuth information, and its own position information acquired from this position information, etc. acquisition means. The ship according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising autonomous flight control means for automatically maneuvering the flying object according to posture information.   The flying vehicle is either a floating flying vehicle that floats by its own buoyancy, a wind flying vehicle that floats by using wind power without using its own energy, or a powered flying vehicle that floats by using its own energy. The ship according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the ship is a ship.   A communication system between ships using the ship according to any one of claims 1 to 6 to perform communication between ships.   A communication system between ship and land, wherein communication is performed between the ship according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and a communication base on land.

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