Field trials of ECPINS vessel positioning algorithm

Since 1979, Offshore Systems Ltd. (OSL) has been involved in the development of electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS). OSL's ECDIS is called the Electronic Chart Precise Integrated Navigation System (ECPINS). The accurate positioning of a vessel is a paramount requirement for an ECDIS. OSL's engineering department has expended considerable effort in the application of Kalman filtering techniques for the integration of several marine navigation measurements which are used for estimating a vessel's position and kinematics. This paper gives an overview of OSL's positioning Kalman filter (PKF), and outlines the different modes of operation depending on which marine navigation measurements are available. Performance results, of the PKF, based on field trials using OSL's vessel, "the MV Surveyor", navigating within Vancouver, B.C., Harbour, are also presented in this paper.