User's Manual
FutureWaves™ User Manual
FutureWaves™ v1.7.0.1
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Overview
This document serves as a guide for operating the FutureWaves™ system. FutureWaves™ is a
system with the capability to measure, predict, and display the environmental and ship motion
parameters needed for operators to safely conduct operations. The system provides accurate
ship motion and wave forecasting for time scales of interest (~5 minutes) in up to sea state 5 and
ship speeds of up to 10 knots.
System Description
Figure 1: FutureWaves™ Components and Physical Layout
The major hardware subsystems of the FutureWaves™ system are:
User Workstation [Bridge Console] – The User Workstation (UWS) is a ruggedized Intel
PC running Windows 10 that provides the main interface for FutureWaves™. Detailed
software description is in the following section.
Primary Processing Unit (PPU) – The PPU is a ruggedized Intel PC running Linux
Ubuntu 16.04. It performs the core algorithms of FutureWaves™ taking in sensor data
and providing products to the UWS. The PPU is in the Electronics Locker located in the
Bosun’s Storeroom below the forecastle deck.
Wave Radar Unit (WRU) – The WRU is the principal FutureWaves™ sensor for
measuring the oceanic wave field. It is a modified marine navigation radar specialized
for ocean surface return. Radar control and signal processing are performed by a
Wave Radar Unit