The paper presents a concept of application of optical displacement sensor type Sharp GP2Y0A02 in the linear positioning system containing rodless pneumatic actuator and programmable controller. The coupling circuit between sensor and controller, containing voltage controlled current source was proposed. The properties of measuring system were investigated, and some mathematical models of its static characteristic were found using the less squares method. The analysis of residual errors, and sum of squared residual errors were performed. Finally, the model minimizing the mentioned quantities, as well as measuring range of investigated system were selecte

The paper presents approximations of added wave resistance useful in the early stage of designing ro-ro ferries. Reference added wave resistance values were calculated by means of SEAWAY software based on accurate numerical methods. Approximating function was elaborated by using the artificial neural networks. The model values were calculated by means of 448 ferry shape variants assuming conventional waving parameters and ferry movement parameters. Such approach permitted the replacement of the complicated numerical model with a simple analytical model based on basic hull shape parameters

The paper presents approximations of roll amplitudes of a S-175 containershipoccurring in irregular waves on the basis of main service parameters. Standard values of ship’s roll were determined by means of exact numerical methods by using the SEAWAY software. The relationships were elaborated by means of artificial neural networks and presented as an analytical function. The proposed approach may be used to approximate real values of roll angle amplitude on the basis of data recorded onboard the ship during its service.

This paper presents mathematical relationships that allow forecast of the estimated sale price of new container ships, based on data concerning vessels built in 2005–2015. The presented approximations allow estimation of the price based on deadweight capacity (DWT) or the number of containers the ship will carry (TEU). The approximations were developed using linear regression and the theory of artificial neural networks. The presented relations have practical relevance in the estimation of container ship sale price needed in transport studies or preliminary parametric design of the ship. It follows from the above that the use of artificial neural networks to predict the price of a container ship brings more accurate solutions than linear regressions.

The following paper presents a novel method for approximating the fall trajectories of small, lightweight oil binders, used during oil spill clean-up operation at sea. Due to the weight, size and shape of the binders, the fall trajectory is highly dependent on the direction and strength of the wind, as well as the rotations and positions of individual binders when dropped. Since a large quantity of tightly packed binders are dropped at once, it is highly inconvenient to calculate the precise trajectory of each binder when its exact initial rotation and position inside the container are not known. The aim of this study is to predict the exact moment and position of the drop, as well as the oil binders’ spread, considering wind conditions, airplane velocity and height.