Marine Auto-Navigation System

1. MANS(TM)
Marine Auto-Navigation System

2. MANSTM System Description
• MANS™ by ROV Systems is a simple and easy-to-use system that allows long
range, remote operation of small to medium sized surface vessels. The system
provides for direct manual steering or autonomous navigation. Stand-alone
GPS is the basic sensor input for autonomous navigation, but various inertial
systems can be integrated for more capable operation.
• The standard system utilizes a tablet PC (touch-screen) controller. As an option,
it can be integrated with a joystick and keypad (with throttle slider) as a base
station, which can be portable or hard mounted. Standard display shows
navigation menu, GPS speed and position. Communication between the
controller transmitter and the remote receiver is via a 433mhz (microwave
band), frequency agile data link. The receiver drives eletromechanical actuators
attached to the steering system and throttle system in the most basic version.
Optional control of additional equipment and sensors is available and relatively
easy to integrate.
• Control and display of the status or operation of optional equipment and sensors
includes but is not limited to: optical sensors (day/night/low-light/IR cameras),
depth sounders, knot meters, engine operating parameters, lighting, cable
releases, anchor controllers, trim tabs, winches, etc.

3. MANSTM System Features
• Operating distance from shore or ship-based control station is 10 nautical
miles with standard antennas. Greater distances can be realized with taller
antennas.
• Maximum boat speed for system operation is 50 knots.
• Basic ROV Systems autopilot for GPS based navigation with route predefined
by user.
• Users can generate desired routes via a tablet touchscreen interface or load
from text file.
• Users will have capability for manual control of vehicle via tablet interface or
an external joystick based controller.
• Our autopilot software provides: return to home, restart of route, ability to
jump to alternate future waypoints during mission execution, and configurable
speed per route segment.
• The tablet interface has the capability to log position data and on-board
telemetry which can either be analog input, digital input or serial data.
• The tablet interface can generate a .kml file for visual playback of a mission.

4. System Architecture
Tablet PC FTDI
USB
433MHz
Tx With
Serial
Telemetry
Serial
Omni
Antenna
PPM
Optional
433MHz
Rx With
Serial
Telemetry
Omni
Antenna
Navigation
Board
Helical
Antenna
GPS
))))
))))
Linear
Actuator
Linear
Actuator
SMA SMA
Serial
PWM PWM
12V5V
Serial
Optimize antenna selection for desired range / environmental conditions
Tx/Rx
1W Output
Throttle Steering
Desired User
Telemetry
(Serial,
Analog Input,
Digital Input)
12V12V

5. 7m
4m
Range = 19km (10 nautical miles)
For every nautical mile line-of-sight range increase, an additional 3m of total height
difference is required between the transmitting and receiving antennas.
Optimal Antenna Mounting Heights

6. Optimal Antenna Mounting Heights
34m
4m
Range = 32km (17 nautical miles)
For every nautical mile line-of-sight range increase, an additional 3m of total height
difference is required between the transmitting and receiving antennas.

7. Standard Hand-held Touch Screen Tablet PC
Controller (shown with optional side mounted “thumb” joysticks)

8. Optional Base Station Direct
Controller (PPM Output)

9. Software User Interface
Intuitive operator interface to allow the user to focus on the mission.