System Design Laboratory

For the safe and reliable navigation of USVs (Unmanned Surface Vehicles), it is essential that they autonomously recognize maritime obstacles and accurately detect their surroundings. To achieve this, USVs are typically equipped with multiple sensors, such as RADAR (RAdio Detection And Ranging) and a camera, each possessing distinct advantages and limitations. RADAR provides long-range detection and relative speed measurement, but its low resolution limits object classification and lateral distance accuracy. In contrast, the camera provides high resolution visual information for detailed recognition, but it is sensitive to lighting conditions. Because of differences in sensing range, frequency, and error characteristics, achieving consistent, accurate obstacle tracking with a single sensor is challenging. Therefore, it is necessary to integrate multiple sensors, combining RADAR’s robustness across various weather conditions with a camera’s high resolution capabilities.