Control and evaluation of mobile offshore base operations
Anouck Girard, James A Misener, João Borges de Sousa, Karl J. Hedrick · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1999
We are developing dynamic position (DP) control and evaluation systems for semi-submersible vessel system called a Mobile Offshore Base (MOB). In concept, the MOB is a self-propelled prepositioned floating base consisting of three to five vessels, and comprising a mile-long runway to accommodate C-17 take-off and landing operations and allow cargo transfer from container ships. Separate MOB barges would embark toward a preposition point about 100 km offshore, assemble along a line, then execute a military mission in a variety of sea states. Specific concepts call for them to be mechanically or electronically linked, while a concept refinement uses a hybrid approach, linking them mechanically during low sea states and electronically once the environmental disturbances increase. We discuss issues and approaches with MOB control, with a focus on the overarching control architecture. We frame our discussion, however, on microsimulation techniques derived from a discipline best described as simulation of dynamically reconfigurable multi-agent hybrid dynamic systems. Specifically we describe the intended use of our microsimulation technique to evaluate various control concepts and ultimately, to test the feasibility of employing DP on the MOB.