homepage_osv

Monitoring drones and workboats with ECDIS NX

Specialists at sea that work with precision in all conditions need special functions. This also applies to many offshore and coastguard applications where drones (air, surface, underwater), helicopters and workboats are used.

In such a scenario, the mothership is the only safe landing site or harbour for drones, helicopters or small workboats. If the ship and the drones or boats are too far away from each other, the drone may be lost, or the personnel of the boat may be in danger.

How can navigators ensure that the ship and the drone or boat are always travelling at a suitable distance from each other with both still being able to move freely?

To best support these use cases, ECDIS NX provides the bridge team with the right features.

ECDIS NX has a function called “outhouse” which helps the bridge team of the mothership to manage drones, helicopters or boats. Typical applications are:

  • Helicopter operations
  • Drone operation (air, surface, subsea)
  • RIB / tender / workboat operations

How does it work? On the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), the user can define a circle around a position with a configurable radius. This circle is the “outhouse”. Within this area, the own vessel can move freely while remaining safely accessible for the drones and boats. If the own vessel leaves this area, an alarm is generated. Course and speed can be defined for the outhouse to enable dynamic joint operation.

The “outhouse” function is an optional function within ECDIS NX. The modular design of ECDIS NX enables the customised adaptation to tasks and requirements.

ECDIS NX is an advanced, powerful ECDIS with all essential functions to plan, control and monitor navigation. It provides a high level of situational awareness, while all important functions are at your fingertips. ECDIS NX is available as a stand-alone system or as a multifunctional workstation.

Visit the website for ECDIS NX to learn more about the Anschütz ECDIS and its optional features.