Chinese researchers have developed a maritime vision system that provides ships with full 360-degree visibility, aiming to enhance navigation safety in low visibility conditions.
The system features a dual-module design, incorporating 8 to 12 cameras per unit. In addition it integrates visible-light and far-infrared sensors to ensure performance across various visibility conditions.
“The system’s core innovation lies in its real-time panoramic synthesis capability” explained Cai Chengtao, Dean of the College of Intelligent Systems Science and Engineering, Harbin Engineering University.
Furthermore, the embedded processing combines camera feeds to create a unified 360-degree view, accessible by both onboard navigation systems and remote monitoring centers.
Cai further noted that unpredictable weather, such as fog and storms, often forces ships to stop operations, leading to inefficiencies and higher costs. To address these challenges, the system, developed over 14 years, offers China’s first all-weather, high-resolution panoramic vision solution for maritime use.
As reported by Xinhua, in its three years of application, the system has successfully predicted and warned of several potential ship collisions due to blind spots.
The technology is currently operational aboard China’s intelligent research vessel Haitun 1 and is also being used in maritime operations such as tugboat assistance and port surveillance systems.
