摘要 |
<p>According to the invention, there is provided a mooring robot array control system (100), suitable for controlling at least one of a plurality of mooring robots (150) to moor a vessel (200) to a terminal (300) such as wharf or pier, or even another vessel. The mooring robot array control system (100) is used to establish which of a plurality of mooring robots (150), spaced along a terminal (300), are usable for purposes of mooring an approaching vessel (200) to be moored, and which mooring robots (150) are not available by reason that they are currently occupied by mooring another vessel, or are located alongside part of the vessel (200) that is difficult to engage with. The mooring robot array control system (100) is then used to control these mooring robots (150) accordingly. The array control system (100) comprises a proximity sensor associated with each of the plurality of mooring robots (150), engagement sensor associated with each of the mooring robots (150), a set of instructions in the form of software (190). and a controller (160). Further, known information about a vessel can be combined with information known about other vessels moored at the terminal (300), to recommend relocation of mooring robots which are already being used to moor vessel to the terminal, to optimise usage of the mooring robots (150) and free up mooring robots (150) which are excess to regquirements to be able to moor the apprach vessel (200) to be moored.</p> |