Took one of the vehicles in for service this morning, and our
salesperson (clever enough to check the service department appointment
sheet each day and "happen to be" in the shop to greet his sales
customers as they arrive) collared me to show me a new 2007 model.

I was impressed by the stylish lines, the comfortable seats, and even
the leaded crystal glass headlight bezels- but what got my attention
was the salesman's description of the new "automatic parallel parking"
feature on the long wheel base version of the same car.

His description:

"You pull up alongside an empty parking space, and a system of sensors
will measure the spot to be sure that it is long enough to accommoate
your car. The factory wants you to have no less than 3-feet of
clearance between the cars in front and in back, so that's how the
measurement is set."

"Once it has been determined that the car will fit into the space, you
pull ahead until you are alongside of the car in front of the available
spot. The system then determines the distance between the side of your
car and the car parked at the curb, notes where the left rear corner of
the parked car car is at, and then automatically steers and shifts the
car to fit into the space the sensors defined. All you do is sort of
ride the brake until your car is sitting perfectly centered and against
the curb."

I had to wonder: Will something of this nature be helping us dock out
boats in a generation or so?
There are obviously a lot more variables when docking a boat than when
parking a car; but even so
I wouldn't be surprised to see some enterprising young engineer figure
out how to automate at least some docking functions with a similar
system.

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...
Took one of the vehicles in for service this morning, and our
salesperson (clever enough to check the service department appointment
sheet each day and "happen to be" in the shop to greet his sales
customers as they arrive) collared me to show me a new 2007 model.

I was impressed by the stylish lines, the comfortable seats, and even
the leaded crystal glass headlight bezels- but what got my attention
was the salesman's description of the new "automatic parallel parking"
feature on the long wheel base version of the same car.

His description:

"You pull up alongside an empty parking space, and a system of sensors
will measure the spot to be sure that it is long enough to accommoate
your car. The factory wants you to have no less than 3-feet of
clearance between the cars in front and in back, so that's how the
measurement is set."

"Once it has been determined that the car will fit into the space, you
pull ahead until you are alongside of the car in front of the available
spot. The system then determines the distance between the side of your
car and the car parked at the curb, notes where the left rear corner of
the parked car car is at, and then automatically steers and shifts the
car to fit into the space the sensors defined. All you do is sort of
ride the brake until your car is sitting perfectly centered and against
the curb."

I had to wonder: Will something of this nature be helping us dock out
boats in a generation or so?
There are obviously a lot more variables when docking a boat than when
parking a car; but even so
I wouldn't be surprised to see some enterprising young engineer figure
out how to automate at least some docking functions with a similar
system.


Wind, current, waves, prop efficiency, slack in the lines of the boats
docked in front/behind or along side of..........yaddayaddayadda.......

Interesting thought Chuck but as you know it will never happen.

JimH wrote:


Wind, current, waves, prop efficiency, slack in the lines of the boats
docked in front/behind or along side of..........yaddayaddayadda.......

Interesting thought Chuck but as you know it will never happen.

If the sensors could keep track of the docking vessel's exact position
relative to other boats and the open space at the dock, and if there is
effectively 360 degree variable propulsion available (coming close with
the Volvo IPS system, for example) moderate wind or current
wouldn't be insurmountable in the equation. The system would need to
compensate, instantly, as variables changed. I don't think it's
something we will see soon- but something we could easily see
eventually.

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:


Wind, current, waves, prop efficiency, slack in the lines of the boats
docked in front/behind or along side of..........yaddayaddayadda.......

Interesting thought Chuck but as you know it will never happen.

If the sensors could keep track of the docking vessel's exact position
relative to other boats and the open space at the dock, and if there is
effectively 360 degree variable propulsion available (coming close with
the Volvo IPS system, for example) moderate wind or current
wouldn't be insurmountable in the equation. The system would need to
compensate, instantly, as variables changed. I don't think it's
something we will see soon- but something we could easily see
eventually.


I guess it is all a matter of time.......can your fantasy system update
position of the pilot boat and surrounding obstructions in a millisecond
time frame and have propulsion systems react within the same milliseconds?

If it were possible the entire package (propulsion systems, other hardware,
software, tracking system) would be cost prohibitive.

Bottom line........Star Trek 2025.

" JimH" not telling you @ pffftt.com wrote in message
...

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:


Wind, current, waves, prop efficiency, slack in the lines of the boats
docked in front/behind or along side of..........yaddayaddayadda.......

Interesting thought Chuck but as you know it will never happen.

If the sensors could keep track of the docking vessel's exact position
relative to other boats and the open space at the dock, and if there is
effectively 360 degree variable propulsion available (coming close with
the Volvo IPS system, for example) moderate wind or current
wouldn't be insurmountable in the equation. The system would need to
compensate, instantly, as variables changed. I don't think it's
something we will see soon- but something we could easily see
eventually.


I guess it is all a matter of time.......can your fantasy system update
position of the pilot boat and surrounding obstructions in a millisecond
time frame and have propulsion systems react within the same milliseconds?

If it were possible the entire package (propulsion systems, other
hardware, software, tracking system) would be cost prohibitive.

Bottom line........Star Trek 2025.


Actually would be fairly simple with a bow thruster. The parameters would
be for larger than 3' clearance length wise, but milliseconds for decisions
is a long time for modern control system.

Calif Bill wrote:
" JimH" not telling you @ pffftt.com wrote in message
...
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...
JimH wrote:

Wind, current, waves, prop efficiency, slack in the lines of the boats
docked in front/behind or along side of..........yaddayaddayadda.......

Interesting thought Chuck but as you know it will never happen.
If the sensors could keep track of the docking vessel's exact position
relative to other boats and the open space at the dock, and if there is
effectively 360 degree variable propulsion available (coming close with
the Volvo IPS system, for example) moderate wind or current
wouldn't be insurmountable in the equation. The system would need to
compensate, instantly, as variables changed. I don't think it's
something we will see soon- but something we could easily see
eventually.

I guess it is all a matter of time.......can your fantasy system update
position of the pilot boat and surrounding obstructions in a millisecond
time frame and have propulsion systems react within the same milliseconds?

If it were possible the entire package (propulsion systems, other
hardware, software, tracking system) would be cost prohibitive.

Bottom line........Star Trek 2025.


Actually would be fairly simple with a bow thruster. The parameters would
be for larger than 3' clearance length wise, but milliseconds for decisions
is a long time for modern control system.



The computer can handle the variables much faster than a human. I would
not buy the option, because being able to handle the boat is part of the
fun.

Wind, current, waves, prop efficiency, slack in the lines of the boats
docked in front/behind or along side of..........yaddayaddayadda.......

Interesting thought Chuck but as you know it will never happen.

"never"??


"Chuck Gould" wrote
If the sensors could keep track of the docking vessel's exact position
relative to other boats and the open space at the dock, and if there is
effectively 360 degree variable propulsion available (coming close with
the Volvo IPS system, for example) moderate wind or current
wouldn't be insurmountable in the equation.

Sure. Both such systems already exist and are in regular use
by harbor pilots & tugs.

Ever heard of a Z-drive, Cort nozzle, or steerable drive?
Ever heard of position-sensing sonar?

.... The system would need to
compensate, instantly, as variables changed.

Why "instantly"? I think a delay of a few hundredths of a
second... or even two seconds... is that big a problem.


... I don't think it's
something we will see soon- but something we could easily see
eventually.


Yep


JimH wrote:
I guess it is all a matter of time.......can your fantasy system update
position of the pilot boat and surrounding obstructions in a millisecond
time frame and have propulsion systems react within the same milliseconds?


Can your eye, brain, and hand do it perfectly in
milliseconds? Certainly the boat positioning system in use
now (cable throttle linkage & steering) are not
super-hyper-ultra fast in response time.


If it were possible the entire package (propulsion systems, other hardware,
software, tracking system) would be cost prohibitive.

Bottom line........Star Trek 2025.


Bottom line... similar systems are in use now.

DSK

JimH wrote:
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...

JimH wrote:


Wind, current, waves, prop efficiency, slack in the lines of the boats
docked in front/behind or along side of..........yaddayaddayadda.......

Interesting thought Chuck but as you know it will never happen.

If the sensors could keep track of the docking vessel's exact position
relative to other boats and the open space at the dock, and if there is
effectively 360 degree variable propulsion available (coming close with
the Volvo IPS system, for example) moderate wind or current
wouldn't be insurmountable in the equation. The system would need to
compensate, instantly, as variables changed. I don't think it's
something we will see soon- but something we could easily see
eventually.


I guess it is all a matter of time.......can your fantasy system update
position of the pilot boat and surrounding obstructions in a millisecond
time frame and have propulsion systems react within the same milliseconds?

Why milliseconds? A human can't do that.

Chuck Gould wrote:
JimH wrote:

Wind, current, waves, prop efficiency, slack in the lines of the boats
docked in front/behind or along side of..........yaddayaddayadda.......

Interesting thought Chuck but as you know it will never happen.

If the sensors could keep track of the docking vessel's exact position
relative to other boats and the open space at the dock, and if there is
effectively 360 degree variable propulsion available (coming close with
the Volvo IPS system, for example) moderate wind or current
wouldn't be insurmountable in the equation. The system would need to
compensate, instantly, as variables changed. I don't think it's
something we will see soon- but something we could easily see
eventually.


I agree with you, that it is something that is do able. Computers
handle much more complicated situations all the time.

On 25 Oct 2006 14:55:12 -0700, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:

I wouldn't be surprised to see some enterprising young engineer figure
out how to automate at least some docking functions with a similar
system.

It would be nice to have a computer to blame when things go awry...

:-)