A computer controlled robotic system that autonomously adjusts the location of a floating marine dock whenever water levels change in a body of water (e.g., a lake or reservoir) to maintain sufficient draft clearance for safe boat operation and ensure safe access to the dock. The system is comprised of an electric motor-driven tractor device attached to the shore-end of a walkway and a pair of electric-motor driven cable winch assemblies with a distributed control system to move the floating dock toward or away from the shore to maintain a relative desired water depth for safe boat operation and positioning in relation to the moving edge of the water shoreline. The tractor and winch motions are controlled by a combination of on-board (dockside) microprocessor and web-based computing that utilizes software to process location telemetry from distance measuring sensors such as Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensors, Global Positioning System (GPS) data, and a compass bearing to calculate the incremental actuations of the tractor and winch motors. FIG. 1 depicts the system's main elements installed on a marine dock floating near the water's edge (shoreline).


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    Title :

    Automated dock positioning system


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    2021-03-09


    Type of media :

    Patent


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English


    Classification :

    IPC:    B63C LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS , Zuwasserlassen, Trockenstellen, Docken oder Bergen von Schiffen / B63B Schiffe oder sonstige Wasserfahrzeuge , SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS / G05D SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES , Systeme zum Steuern oder Regeln nichtelektrischer veränderlicher Größen / H04L TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION , Übertragung digitaler Information, z.B. Telegrafieverkehr



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