A GPS-based system for precise shipping guidance and control

This paper discusses the general concept of an automatic berthing system. The research considered the automatic berthing of a large merchant ship. A global positioning system (GPS)-based system, which provides the necessary information on position, velocity, attitude (roll, pitch, and heading), angular velocity, and time, was the principal sensor used. Field tests were conducted on board a hydrographic sounding ship to assess the quality of information obtained from a GPS-based system. The data were processed using the software with which the algorithms developed in this research were implemented. This paper also discusses various aspects concerning a real-time GPS-based system in relation to an automatic berthing system, such as integration of sensors, mathematical models, port infrastructure, and training of crews. Received: October 22, 1999 / Accepted: June 30, 2000