ASView Control System

Product Overview

The highly configurable ASView control system has been developed and optimised specifically for use on autonomous surface vehicles. In continuous development since 2008, ASView has been deployed on over 80 unmanned vehicles. It provides us with an industry leading capability to control autonomous surface vehicles safely and reliably.

The system comprises of the ASView-Bridge graphical user interface, ASView-Helm remote controller, ASView-Base radio enclosure and the ASView-Core vehicle system. As greater levels of autonomy are being explored we’re dedicated to the development of the system to ensure it is always the leading commercially available autonomous surface vehicle control system.

We are undertaking industry leading research and development to increase the use of safe and reliable vehicle autonomy.

Control Features:

ASView standard control features:

Direct remote control via ASView-Helm
Assisted remote control; heading, course over ground and speed hold
Mission plan via ASView-Bridge UI consisting of lines, orbits and/or station keeping waypoints.

ASView can be controlled externally through interfaces with third party or open source robotic operating systems such as MOOS, ROS, SeeByte Neptune or other bespoke systems.

Navigation:

ASView supports a variety of navigation sensors including GPS receivers, gyro stabilised and satellite compasses, inertial navigation systems, marine radar systems, AIS, electro optical and infrared cameras and depth sounders.

The ASView-Bridge user interface has clear navigational data displays, full S57 electronic navigation charts with AIS and radar overlay, dedicated radar display and fixed and stabilised pan, tilt and zoom camera displays.

Vessel Integration:

ASView is able to control and monitor a variety of power generation and propulsion engines, motors and devices. The vehicles electrical system, data buses and safety systems are all controlled and monitored. Recorded data can be exported for post operation analysis. ASView can be easily integrated with existing craft using a number of standard marine interfaces such as NMEA 0183 and 2000, CAN bus engine controls and simple electrical interfaces.

Payload Integration:

ASView can interface with a variety of above and below the water payloads for deployment, operation and data extraction.

Safety:

When conducting any unmanned operations, safety is of paramount importance. The ability to safely halt the ASV or recover it are critical. ASView includes the following safety features:

Emergency stop buttons via ASView-Bridge and ASView-Helm
Geo-fence tool providing operating areas and exclusion zones
Programmable behaviour on lost communications
Software independent emergency stop system
Propulsion emergency stop methods

Communications:

ASView is compatible with large range of commercially available line of sight and satellite communications systems. Line of sight communications can include UHF radio, mesh network radio or Wi-Fi. Satellite communications can be conducted via Iridium, Inmarsat or V-Sat systems.

Autonomy

We are undertaking industry leading research and development to increase the use of safe and reliable vehicle autonomy. Specific focus is in the areas of collision avoidance and operating over the horizon safely. We are working on this both internally and collaboratively with a wide range of defence and commercial technical subject matter experts.

ASView-Core

The ASView-Core vessel interface manager and autonomy processor is the central hub of the control system. The ASView-Core comprises of the common elements of all ASV vehicle control systems and utilises standardised hardware, software and interfaces.

Fitted to the vessel the ASView-Core connects sensors and devices that interact with the vessel and environment through the vessels network, NMEA, CAN, Ethernet and Serial data buses.
A service based software architecture is utilised allowing either on board or off board control authority and includes the following standardised functions;

• Vessel Device Manager
• Data Compression Services
• Link Manager System
• Autopilot controller
• Advanced Mission Plan Engine
• Autonomy Manager (coming 2017)

The ASView-Core hardware is built and proven to handle the worst of the marine environment, including the repeated shock associated with 60 knot unmanned vessels in open ocean conditions.

ASView-Base Server

The ASView-Base server provides shore side or mothership connectivity between the unmanned vessel and ASView-Bridge operator interfaces. A standard ASView-Base is a rugged weatherproof enclosure containing radio links, a server with redundant power supplies. For over the horizon operations only the server facilities are required and these can be optionally hosted in the cloud.

The ASView-Base software’s server/client architecture replicates ASV-Core data enabling multiple shore side facilities to connect seamlessly as though on board the unmanned vessel. ASView-Base has the flexibility to setup a wide range of control centre configurations. Multiple ASView-Bridge user interface clients can connect simultaneously and control arbitration facilities ensure only one user can be in control at once.

ASView-Bridge User Interface

ASView-Bridge is a standardised operator interface that provides all control and feedback functionality to the vessel operator. It provides the operator with electronic nautical charts, mission planning tools, live display of sensor data, video and radar from the vehicle.

The ASView-Bridge provides an interface for ASView’s wide range of functionality to enable safe navigation.

• Control Modes
• Navigation
• Vessel Integration
• Safety
• Payloads

ASView-Bridge runs on a Linux operating system and utilises off the shelf laptop or rugged, desktop or rack computing hardware. The user interface can be used with a single 1080x1920 display but two displays are optimal for continuous operations.

ASView-Helm Portable Remote Controller

ASView-Helm is a rugged, portable wireless remote control unit providing manual teleoperation of unmanned vessels, typically used for launch and recovery or docking operations.
It features joysticks and buttons as well as a daylight viewable screen that displays video from selectable cameras on board the vehicle. Screen overlays also provide basic vehicle state and navigation telemetry.

ASView-Helm can be used to directly connect to the vessel or it can be associated with a ASView-Bridge operator interface to provide a tele-operation mode when using line of sight communications links.

Note: ASView-Helm is not used when operating over satellite links due to latency restrictions.

Radio links

ASV is able to offer a range of radio communications systems to suit a customer’s range, licencing and budgetary requirements.

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Product Information