The present invention relates generally to a watercraft, and more specifically to a watercraft comprising an augmented reality system for interacting with a management system of that watercraft. A related method and arrangement are also provided.

Watercrafts come in a variety of different forms, ranging from small surface boats and related vessels, to large military, naval surface vessels. Watercrafts also encompass things such as hovercrafts and submersibles. All but the very simplest of watercraft will typically comprise of some form of management system, for use in managing functionality associated with that watercraft. At one extreme, such a management system might encompass a compass or other navigational aid, or even an engine management system. At perhaps the other extreme, in a military environment, a management system might comprise a full combat management system, which might comprise a computational device and software system and general package that in some way integrates all the sensors and weapon systems of the craft into a single system, possibly in combination with general management of command and control functionality. In any of these examples, a user of the watercraft will need to, at some point, engage with the management system in order to usefully and effectively interact with the watercraft.

User interaction with the management system of the watercraft is typically undertaken in a traditional and simplistic manner, for example viewing one or more dials or screens associated with or forming part of the management system. Interaction might comprise interacting with the management system by receiving visual outputs from such dials or screens, or providing input to the management system via one or more actuators (e.g. buttons, dials, and so on). Whilst such interaction might be satisfactory in some circumstances, it may not be satisfactory in others. For example, having to look at and interact with one or more dials, or screens, or similar, in order to interact with the watercraft may reduce situation awareness of the user, or increase workload of the user, or increase response time of the user, especially when multiple interactions are required. More generally, it may be difficult for the user to efficiently and effectively interact with the management system, when the interaction is in such a simplistic and traditional manner.

It is therefore an example aim of example embodiments of the present invention to at least partially avoid or overcome one or more disadvantages of the prior art, whether identified herein or elsewhere, or to at least provide a viable alternative to apparatus and methods of the prior art.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a watercraft comprising: a management system for use in managing functionality associated with the watercraft; an augmented reality system arranged to interact with the management system, at least a part of the augmented reality system being arranged to be wearable by a user of the watercraft to provide augmented reality image data to the user based on the interaction between the augmented reality system and the management system. The management system may comprise a combat management system, and image data provided by the augmented reality system is displayed adjacent to, or around, of the direct line of sight to any external craft or item, maintaining a clear view of the external craft or item.

The augmented reality system may be arranged to allow relatively unhindered movement of the user about the watercraft whilst still allowing for interaction with the management system.

The image data provided by the augmented reality system may be displayed adjacent to, or around, of the direct line of sight to an external craft or item when the user's view is centred on the external craft or item, or in front of an external craft or item in the direct line of sight when the user's view is not centred on the external craft or item.

The part of the augmented reality system that is arranged to be wearable by a user may be arranged to interact wirelessly with another part of the augmented reality system and/or the management system.

The part of the augmented reality system that is arranged to be wearable by a user may comprise one or more of: goggles; glasses; a headset.

The augmented reality system may be arranged to provide augmented reality binocular image data to the user.

The augmented reality system may be arranged to provide augmented reality stereoscopic image data to the user.

The part of the augmented reality system that is arranged to be wearable by a user may comprise a sensor for sensing one or more of: a movement of the part; and/or a location of the part; and/or an orientation of the part.

The management system may comprise or be in connection with a camera. The augmented reality system may provide image data to the user derived from imagery obtained by the camera.

The augmented reality system may comprise multiple different wearable parts, each part being wearable by a different user of the watercraft to provide augmented reality image data to each different user.

The interaction between the augmented reality system and the management system may comprise: the augmented reality system receiving and/or providing image data based on an output from the management system; and/or the augmented reality system receiving an input, or an input from the user, and providing the input to the management system.

The augmented reality system may be controllable by the user, such that the user can control the image data that is provided to the user.

The watercraft may be a naval watercraft.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an arrangement, comprising: a management system for use in managing functionality associated with a watercraft; an augmented reality system arranged to interact with the management system, at least a part of the augmented reality system being arranged to be wearable by a user of the watercraft to provide augmented reality image data to the user based on the interaction between the augmented reality system and the management system. The management system further comprises a combat management system, and image data provided by the augmented reality system is displayed adjacent to, or around, of the direct line of sight to any external craft or item, maintaining a clear view of the external craft or item.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of interacting with a management system of a watercraft, the management system being for use in managing functionality associated with the watercraft, the method comprising: a user of the watercraft using an augmented reality system to interact with the management system, at least a part of the augmented reality system being wearable by the user of the watercraft to provide augmented reality image data to the user based on the interaction between the augmented reality system and the management system, wherein image data provided by the augmented reality system is displayed adjacent to, or around, of the direct line of sight to any external craft or item, maintaining a clear view of the external craft or item.

It will be appreciated that features described in relation to the different aspects (e.g. watercraft, arrangement, method) may, unless clearly mutually exclusive based on the understanding of the skilled person from a reading of this disclosure, be combined or replaced with features of other aspects.

