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Network (UDP) - Forssea VLOC (standard deviation) - 23

Description


Driver to interface to the Forssea Robotics VLOC system. Forssea Robotics VLOC system is a computer vision based method, able to track and position underwater markers.
Measurements are done in real-time by a dedicated high-grade camera (called the Nav Cam), which is mounted on an ROV.
The driver provides relative positions of markers and absolute orientations of those markers when the VLOC system is coupled with a performant gyro.



Driver Information

DriverForssea VLOC Interface TypeUDPDriver Class TypeFreebaseCreated

 

UTC Driver (question)YesInput / OutputInputExecutableDrvQpsFreebase.exe VLOC UTCUpdated
Related Systems
Related Pages

Format

The system uses a text based format. Depending on whether or not a 'high performant gyro' is coupled to the system, the system will output the $VLOC string (no gyro coupled) or the $VLOC_ABS string (gyro coupled). The only difference between the two strings is that the $VLOC_ABS string contains absolute attitude data. The data string look as follows:

$VLOC,hhmmss.ss,mm,dd,yyyy,i,x.xxx,y.yyy,z.zzz,R.RR,P.PP,Y.YY,I.III,J.JJJ,K.KKK,L.LL,M.MM,N.NN<CR><LF>
$VLOC_ABS,hhmmss.ss,mm,dd,yyyy,i,x.xxx,y.yyy,z.zzz,R.RR,P.PP,Y.YY,r.rr,p.pp,h.hh,I.III,J.JJJ,K.KKK,L.LL,M.MM,N.NN<CR><LF>


ParameterASCII modelunitResolutionRangedefinitionsign conventionAvailable in 

Header

$VLOC/$VLOC_ABS


ASCII Header


Both strings

UTC Time

hhmmss.sssecond

10^-2 s


UTC Time in Hour, Minutes, Seconds


Both strings

Month

mmmonth1

1<->12

Month


Both strings

Day

ddday1

1<->31

Day


Both strings
Yearyyyyyear1

2019<- >2099

Year


Both strings
Idi


0 <-> 10000 +

Identifier of the marker


Both strings
X+/-x.xxx

Meter

10^-3 m


Distance from the center of the camera glass to the center of the marker on Nav Cam X axis

>0 When the

center of the marker is to the right of the center of the camera glass

Both strings
Yy.yyy

Meter

10^-3 m


Distance from the center of the camera glass to the center of the marker on Nav Cam Y axis

>0

Both strings
Z+/-z.zzz

Meter

10^-3 m

Distance from the center of the camera glass to the center of the marker on Nav Cam Z axis

>0 When the

center of the marker is above the center of the camera glass

Both strings
Roll+/-R.RR

Decimal Degree

10^-2 Deg

-180<->180

Roll of the marker relatively to the camera

>0 When the bottom left corner of the marker goes up

Both strings
Pitch+/-P.PP

Decimal Degree

10^-2 Deg

-90<->90

Pitch of the marker relatively to the camera

>0 When the top of the marker gets further from the camera

Both strings
YawY.YY

Decimal Degree

10^-2 Deg

0 <-> 180

Yaw of the marker relatively to the camera

>0

Both strings
Absolute Roll+/-r.rr

Decimal Degree

10^-2 Deg

-180<->180

Roll of the marker relatively to the gravity frame

>0 When the bottom left corner of the marker goes up

only in $VLOC_ABS string
Absolute Pitch+/-p.pp

Decimal Degree

10^-2 Deg

-180<->180

Pitch of the marker relatively to the gravity frame

>0 When the top of the marker gets further from the camera

only in $VLOC_ABS string
Absolute Headingh.hh

Decimal Degree

10^-2 Deg

0 <-> 360

Heading of the marker relatively to the gravity frame

North =0 East= 90

only in $VLOC_ABS string
X standard deviationI.III

Meter

10^-3 m


Standard deviation in X measurement

>0

Both strings
Y standard deviationJ.JJJ

Meter

10^-3 m


Standard deviation in Y measurement

>0

Both strings
Z standard deviationK.KKK

Meter

10^-3 m


Standard deviation in Z measurement

>0

Both strings
Roll standard deviationL.LL

Decimal Degree

10^-2 Deg

0<->180

Standard deviation in Roll measurement

>0

Both strings
Pitch standard deviationM.MM

Decimal Degree

10^-2 Deg

0<->90

Standard deviation in Pitch measurement

>0

Both strings
Yaw standard deviationN.NN

Decimal Degree

10^-2 Deg

0 <-> 180

Standard deviation in Yaw measurement

>0

Both strings

Decoding Notes

The driver decodes USBL, Gyro, Attitude and Miscellaneous systems.

The following table shows how the observation data is related to the data in the decoded string:

SystemObservationData field
GyroheadingAbsolute Heading
heading quality indicatorYaw standard deviation
Pitch Roll HeavePitchAbsolute Pitch
Pitch quality indicatorPitch standard deviation
RollAbsolute Roll
Roll quality indicatorRoll standard deviation
USBLXX
X quality indicatorX standard deviation
YY
Y quality indicatorY standard deviation
Z
Z quality indicatorZ standard deviation
MiscellaneousX SDX standard deviation
Y SDY standard deviation
Z SDZ standard deviation
Roll SDRoll standard deviation
Pitch SDPitch standard deviation
Yaw SDYaw standard deviation


Warning

Please note that Gyro and Attitude observations are decoded from the absolute attitude parts of the data string.

This data will only be available when 'a performant gyro' is coupled to the system.


System Interfacing

The interfacing of the Forssea camera is done via the general web interface.

In the Output Settings tab the format can be defined. Select to output a Custom format and select the fields as explained in the Format section of this document.
Output the VLOC_ABS to decode Pitch, Roll and Yaw; output the VLOC if only dx dy dz (USBL) are required.

To be able to decode the absolute pitch, roll and heading, an AHRS (gyro and motion) sensor needs to be interfaced which outputs a TAH ($PHOCT) string.
This can be done in the Input Settings:

For further information please refer to the Nav Cam User Guide.


Database Setup

The V-LOC system outputs UDP data. Make sure that the system sends data to the same port as the one configured in Qinsy.

We advise to send the data to the broadcast IP address (255.255.255.255).

Depending on whether or not a 'high performant gyro' is coupled to the system, the system will output the $VLOC string (no gyro coupled) or the $VLOC_ABS string (gyro coupled).
The only difference between the two strings is that the $VLOC_ABS string contains absolute attitude data, but this means a different database setup is required.

Below follows a step by step guide on how to interface the 2 different methods. At the end of the section a detailed system setup can be found.

Option 1: Interfacing the VLOC (USBL)

When interfacing the VLOC as a USBL sensor only, each marker can be added as a node on the subsea structure that needs to be positioned.
Pay attention to the SD values defined in the Computation Setup: if these are too tight the computation might fail.
In case markers are added as node locations, the least squares adjustment will calculate a mean position for the subsea structure.
For more information see Knowledge Base article 'How-to Computation Setup'.

  1. Add a USBL sensor as described below. For each Marker on the object a target can be added.
  2. On the object all the marker can be added as node locations.

Option 2: Interfacing the VLOC ABS (USBL, MRU and Gyro)

By interfacing the VLOC ABS, the absolute pitch, roll and heading of the Marker can be decoded. All the individual markers have their own reference frame.
This means a correction must be made to align the reference frame of the marker with the reference frame of the object in Qinsy.
To be able to correct for this misalignment, it is advised to make use of separation objects, rotation angle sensors and linked objects.
Below a description on the suggested database setup.

  1. Treat each marker as a separate object.
    Create an object of type ROV, and create a shape that represents the size of the marker.
    Add a node location for the reference point of the marker.


  2. From the main object, add a USBL sensor as described below. Add a target for the Marker:


  3. Create for each marker object a Linked object which represent the subsea structure.
    Add a node location that represents the reference point / location of the marker.


  4. Link both marker nodes on the subsea structure and the Marker object itself.
    A link is created by right clicking on Link:


  5. Add a PRH and Gyro sensor as explained in the PRH and Gyro section on the marker ROV object.
  6. Add a manual rotation sensor on the linked object (not the marker object).  Add all rotation axes on each subsea structure object.
    This manual rotation sensor is used to correct for the misalignment between the Qinsy reference frame and the marker reference frame.


  7. Below an overview of the database Setup when using a single marker:


  8. Repeat step 1 till 7 for each individual marker.
  9. When online, each calculated marker position can then be compared and enabled/disabled.
    This is different from interfacing the VLOC message only where an LSA calculates a mean position. 

Example template

Please find attached an example template:
Template Forssea Test Setup.db


USBL system 

  • Make sure the Sign convention for Z Data is set to 'Positive upward'.
  • Use the marker ID as the slot ID when adding targets.

Pitch Roll Heave system

The absolute pitch and roll are decoded by this system.

Warning

If 'a performant gyro' is not coupled to the system, pitch and roll will not be decoded.

  • Use the marker ID as the slot ID.

Gyro system

The absolute heading is decoded by this system.

Warning

If 'a performant gyro' is not coupled to the system, heading will not be decoded.

  • Use the marker ID as the 'Slot number 1'.

Miscellaneous system

When adding observations:

  • Use the marker ID for Slot 1
  • Choose the observation to decode from the drop down box for Slot 2

Qinsy Online

Make sure to enable all USBL observation in the Computation Setup with the 'Use Z' option ticked.

A single object will be calculated in case the USBL VLOC message is interfaced:

Or multiple if the VLOC_ABS is interfaced and depending on how many markers are in view:
 

When online, an additional window is shown where the rotation offsets can be entered to align the reference frame of the Marker with the Object reference frame:



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