Marine vessel location awareness warning device

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a marine vessel location awareness device and method of using the device. The marine vessel location awareness device can include electronic components such as a sensor system, a global positioning system (GPS), a tidal gauge device, an alert system, and a microcontroller. The draft sensor can be configured to measure draft data of the marine vessel. The GPS can be configured to measure the position of the marine vessel. The tidal gauge device can be configured to measure a water level of a water body the marine vessel is traveling relative to a vertical datum. The alert system can be configured to alert the marine vessel to enter an active state when the water condition transmitted to the alert system is the unsafe water condition, when the alert system is in the active state, an alert is activated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A location awareness warning device for a marine vessel, comprising:
 a draft sensor configured to measure draft data of the marine vessel;   a global positioning system (GPS) configured to measure a position of the marine vessel;   a tidal gauge device configured to measure a water level of a water body the marine vessel is traveling relative to a vertical datum;   an alert system; and   a microcontroller in communication with the draft sensor, the GPS, the tidal gauge device, and the alert system,   wherein the microcontroller is configured to:
 receive the draft data, the position of the marine vessel, and the water level; 
 compare the draft data against at least one of the position of the marine vessel and the water level to determine a water condition, the water condition including a safe water condition and an unsafe water condition; 
 generate an output signal indicative of the water condition; 
 transmit the water condition to the alert system; 
 cause the alert system to enter an active state when the water condition transmitted to the alert system is the unsafe water condition; and 
 activate an alert when the alert system is in the active state. 
   
     
     
         2 . The location awareness warning device of  claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller further includes hydrographic survey data, and the microcontroller is configured to compare the draft data against the position of the marine vessel, the water level, and the hydrographic survey data to determine the water condition. 
     
     
         3 . The location awareness warning device of  claim 1 , wherein the draft sensor is a pressure sensor configured to measure hydrostatic pressure and depth of the marine vessel in real time. 
     
     
         4 . The location awareness warning device of  claim 1 , wherein the draft sensor includes a plurality of draft sensors disposed on the marine vessel at a location selected from a group consisting of a bow, a stern, a midpoint between the bow and the stern, and combinations thereof, where the plurality of draft sensors is configured to determine a maximum depth at the selected location of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The location awareness warning device of  claim 4 , wherein the draft sensor is disposed on the marine vessel at a bow and a stern, the draft sensor configured to determine a maximum depth at the bow and at the stern of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The location awareness warning device of  claim 1 , wherein the GPS is configured to provide a visual representation of a geographic location of the marine vessel coupled with a map of a surrounding area. 
     
     
         7 . The location awareness warning device of  claim 1 , wherein the tidal gauge device is located on a fixed point against which a real-time position of the tide is tracked. 
     
     
         8 . The location awareness warning device of  claim 1 , wherein the alert system includes at least one of a siren, a lighting system, and a safety shut down protocol. 
     
     
         9 . The location awareness warning device of  claim 1 , further including a power source configured to provide power to the draft sensor, the GPS, the tidal gauge device, the alert system, and the microcontroller. 
     
     
         10 . The location awareness warning device of  claim 9 , wherein the power source includes one of a rechargeable battery, an energy-storing microchip, and solar energy. 
     
     
         11 . The location awareness warning device of  claim 1 , further including an electronic interface configured to display the draft data, the position of the marine vessel, and the water level. 
     
     
         12 . The location awareness warning device of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic interface includes a display screen configured to visually present information. 
     
     
         13 . The location awareness warning device of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic interface includes a display screen configured to offer user input options authorizing a user to interact with various components of the location awareness warning device. 
     
     
         14 . The location awareness warning device of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic interface includes an input means configured to allow input to be entered. 
     
     
         15 . The location awareness warning device of  claim 14 , wherein the input means includes one of a touch pad and a button. 
     
     
         16 . The location awareness warning device of  claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller includes a memory configured to store hydrographic survey data. 
     
     
         17 . The location awareness warning device of  claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller includes a processor and a memory, the processor configured to access the memory, the memory including a tangible, non-transitory storage medium on which a processor-executable instruction is stored. 
     
     
         18 . The location awareness warning device of  claim 1 , further including an electronic interface and a power source, the electronic interface configured to display the draft data, the position of the marine vessel, and the water level, and the power source configured to provide power to the draft sensor, the GPS, the tidal gauge device, the alert system, the microcontroller, and the electronic interface. 
     
     
         19 . A method for using a location awareness warning device for a marine vessel, comprising:
 providing a location awareness warning device including:
 a draft sensor configured to measure draft data of the marine vessel; 
 a global positioning system (GPS) configured to measure a position of the marine vessel; 
 a tidal gauge device configured to measure a water level of a water body the marine vessel is traveling relative to a vertical datum; 
 an alert system; and 
 a microcontroller in communication with the draft sensor, the GPS, the tidal gauge device, and the alert system, 
 wherein the microcontroller is configured to:
 receive the draft data, the position of the marine vessel, and the water level; 
 compare the draft data against at least one of the position of the marine vessel and the water level to determine a water condition, the water condition including a safe water condition and an unsafe water condition; 
 generate an output signal indicative of the water condition; 
 transmit the water condition to the alert system; 
 cause the alert system to enter an active state when the water condition transmitted to the alert system is the unsafe water condition; and 
 activate an alert when the alert system is in the active state; 
 
   collecting draft data, GPS data, and tidal gauge data;   inputting the draft data, GPS data, and tidal gauge data into a processor;   comparing the draft data, GPS data, and tidal gauge data to hydrographic survey data;   calibrating the draft data, GPS data, and tidal gauge data to account for allowances in tide conditions;   determining the water condition including the safe water condition and the unsafe water condition;   generating an output signal indicative of the water condition;   transmitting the water condition to the alert system and causing the alert system to enter the active state when the water condition transmitted to the alert system is the unsafe water condition; and   issuing a warning where the water condition is the unsafe water condition by activating the alert when the alert system is in the active state.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the location awareness warning device further includes an electronic interface, and the method further includes projecting a travel path for the marine vessel on the electronic interface.