DP Operator Manual

Section 11 Laser reference systems

Systems

There are two major systems in operational use Cyscan made by Alstom, and Fan
beam made by MDL, they both give a relative range and bearing, to a reflector, or
reflectors. The systems have multiple uses, it can be used to provide fixing
information for a DP vessel, it can be used to track targets relative to a vessel e.g. a
seismic boat can track the relative position of tail buoys, or a pipe-laying barge can
track the position of anchor handling vessels relative to the barge. Systems may
track single or multiple targets.

Fan beam laser head Cyscan laser head

Components
The operating station
The laser device that transmits and receives the laser pulse.
The reflector (either tube, prismatic type, or combined type).

Mode of operation
1. The reflector is deployed
2. The operating station is switched to search
3. The unit will complete a 360 degree sweep and report all objects that reflect.
4. The laser device send pulses of light out these strike the reflector and are
returned.
5. As the pulse arrives at the laser device, the round trip of the pulse is noted,
and with the known speed of light the range is calculated.
6. As the return pulse arrives, there is a device that measures the direction the
laser device is pointing (the electro optical encoder) this is noted and using a
gyro input bearing is derived.
7. The operator then selects the reflector from the reported objects

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8. The operator tells the system to track that object
9. Operational limits can then be set such as minimum range, minimum signal
strength, and range gates, these will alarm if limits exceed

Sources of error and operational constraint

Following false targets
Manufacturers say this cannot happen , the scenario is that someone in a shiny
jacket walks past the reflector, the laser device locks onto the retro reflective tape on
the jacket, and the vessel follows the jacket.
The risk can be reduced by setting the range gates to a minimum, and siting the
reflector away from areas where people normally walk.

Wind causing signal drop out

If the tube style reflectors are not tied down top and bottom they can get blown
about in the wind, pulses are not reflected properly and the laser system is rejected.

Line of sight
This has many causes:-
1. People or objects in front of the target
2. other vessels passing between the reflector and laser
3. Dirt on the lenses, or reflector
4. Rain, snow, or fog etc.
5. Discharges such as barites, cement etc

Difference in height
The laser beam is horizontally narrow (1 milli radian) vertically it is about 20 degrees
wide, this is to allow for differences in height between the laser and the reflector, and
pitch and roll. However if the height difference is too great, as the vessel gets closer
the reflector will be outside the lasers beam, and the reference will be lost.
Some systems can tilt the laser head to compensate for this.

Light interference
The sun shining directly on the laser or bright lights close to the reflector can cause
loss of signal.

Target types
Tube style target
These can be supplied by the manufacturer; it is recommended that the targets are a
metre in length, and not more than 25cm in diameter. The use of a good quality retro
reflective tape is recommended, such as diamond grade white reflective tape or
something similar. Tube targets should have fastenings top and bottom so that the
will not be blown about in the wind. These give useable signals up to about 200-
300m depending on conditions

Prisms
Prismatic reflectors are optical devices that are designed to reflect the laser pulse
back along the path it was received on. Prisms need to used when operating at
distances from targets outside the tube target ranges

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Range Prisms Notes
Up 1 km 3 stack vertically
Up to 2 km 6 stack vertically

Single prism 3 stack prism

NB if the aspect between the laser and the targets is likely to change the prisms must
be set up to work over 360 degrees

Operational notes
1. When siting the laser unit remember that the lenses have to be cleaned, a
laser at the top of the mast gives an all round view but may be difficult to
clean
2. Prisms can be bought in prefabricated stacks
3. You have to clean the reflectors as well as the laser.
4. Put reflectors as near to same height as laser as possible
5. If possible site reflectors away from where people normally walk and where
slung loads will not block signals.
6. Site reflectors where so they will be in view through out operation, if this is not
possible site extra reflectors, or allow for repositioning in the planning.
7. Site reflectors further away rather than closer to the laser, hopefully the
reflector being designed for purpose will always have a higher return and so
be easier to pick out.
8. Site reflectors as far away as possible away from other reflective items so
again they are easier to pick out.
9. Cyscan can track multiple reflectors, and remember their relative positions,
should a reflector be moved or the laser lock onto a moving reflector the
system can give a warning.

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