Automated Docking System for LNG Loading Arm Based on Machine Vision and Multi-Sensor Fusion
With the growth of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand, automation technology has become a key trend to improve the efficiency and safety of LNG handling. In this study, a novel automatic docking system is proposed which adopts a staged docking strategy based on a monocular camera for position...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2264 |
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| author | Rui Xiang Wuwei Feng Songling Song Hao Zhang |
| author_facet | Rui Xiang Wuwei Feng Songling Song Hao Zhang |
| author_sort | Rui Xiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With the growth of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand, automation technology has become a key trend to improve the efficiency and safety of LNG handling. In this study, a novel automatic docking system is proposed which adopts a staged docking strategy based on a monocular camera for positioning and combines ultrasonic sensors to achieve multi-stage optimization in the fine docking stage. In the coarse docking stage, the system acquires flange image data through the monocular camera, calculates 3D coordinates based on geometric feature extraction and coordinate transformation, and completes the preliminary target localization and fast approach; in the fine docking stage, the ultrasonic sensor is used to measure the multidirectional distance deviation, and the fusion of the monocular data is used to make dynamic adjustments to achieve high-precision alignment and localization. Simulation and experimental verification show that the system has good robustness in complex environments, such as wind and waves, and can achieve docking accuracy within 3 mm, which is better than the traditional manual docking method. This study provides a practical solution for automated docking of LNG loading arms, which can significantly improve the efficiency and safety of LNG loading and unloading operations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c61667167fcb41eb869a15169695545f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-c61667167fcb41eb869a15169695545f2025-08-20T02:05:23ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-02-01155226410.3390/app15052264Automated Docking System for LNG Loading Arm Based on Machine Vision and Multi-Sensor FusionRui Xiang0Wuwei Feng1Songling Song2Hao Zhang3School of Marine Engineering Equipment, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, ChinaSchool of Marine Engineering Equipment, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, ChinaSchool of Marine Engineering Equipment, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, ChinaSchool of Marine Engineering Equipment, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, ChinaWith the growth of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand, automation technology has become a key trend to improve the efficiency and safety of LNG handling. In this study, a novel automatic docking system is proposed which adopts a staged docking strategy based on a monocular camera for positioning and combines ultrasonic sensors to achieve multi-stage optimization in the fine docking stage. In the coarse docking stage, the system acquires flange image data through the monocular camera, calculates 3D coordinates based on geometric feature extraction and coordinate transformation, and completes the preliminary target localization and fast approach; in the fine docking stage, the ultrasonic sensor is used to measure the multidirectional distance deviation, and the fusion of the monocular data is used to make dynamic adjustments to achieve high-precision alignment and localization. Simulation and experimental verification show that the system has good robustness in complex environments, such as wind and waves, and can achieve docking accuracy within 3 mm, which is better than the traditional manual docking method. This study provides a practical solution for automated docking of LNG loading arms, which can significantly improve the efficiency and safety of LNG loading and unloading operations.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2264LNG loading armautomatic dockingvision-based positioningYOLOv8 target detectionmultisensor fusionprecision alignment |
| spellingShingle | Rui Xiang Wuwei Feng Songling Song Hao Zhang Automated Docking System for LNG Loading Arm Based on Machine Vision and Multi-Sensor Fusion Applied Sciences LNG loading arm automatic docking vision-based positioning YOLOv8 target detection multisensor fusion precision alignment |
| title | Automated Docking System for LNG Loading Arm Based on Machine Vision and Multi-Sensor Fusion |
| title_full | Automated Docking System for LNG Loading Arm Based on Machine Vision and Multi-Sensor Fusion |
| title_fullStr | Automated Docking System for LNG Loading Arm Based on Machine Vision and Multi-Sensor Fusion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Automated Docking System for LNG Loading Arm Based on Machine Vision and Multi-Sensor Fusion |
| title_short | Automated Docking System for LNG Loading Arm Based on Machine Vision and Multi-Sensor Fusion |
| title_sort | automated docking system for lng loading arm based on machine vision and multi sensor fusion |
| topic | LNG loading arm automatic docking vision-based positioning YOLOv8 target detection multisensor fusion precision alignment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2264 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ruixiang automateddockingsystemforlngloadingarmbasedonmachinevisionandmultisensorfusion AT wuweifeng automateddockingsystemforlngloadingarmbasedonmachinevisionandmultisensorfusion AT songlingsong automateddockingsystemforlngloadingarmbasedonmachinevisionandmultisensorfusion AT haozhang automateddockingsystemforlngloadingarmbasedonmachinevisionandmultisensorfusion |