There has been the development of technology in water transport wherein ships have become autonomous or controlled remotely by an individual. These systems have their advantages, but since the technology is still new and developers have yet to develop solutions to some problems that may arise, such as partly false dependence on redundancy and human fallback. The false dependence on redundancy means that the technology uses data in an emergency to solve multiple problems. A drawback to this method is that one problem may not be solved by data collected from another problem.
The above problem may be solved using artificial intelligence, including machine learning, to improve the ship’s algorithm and route optimization. Data for the AI can be acquired by using a digital twin ship, radar and LIDAR, and the use of computer vision. A digital twin ship is a virtual vessel that reassembles the vessel and includes ship dynamics like the power and ship propulsion systems (Partner, 2020). The data collected from the twin ship will be used to run different simulations and test scenarios. The different scenarios can find the minimum risk condition to avoid losses of items or the crew onboard the ship.
Computer vision and radars can also collect data used for automation identification signatures (AIS) to identify water vessels around the ship. Sensors will also be used to collect data, and this information collected will be sent through secure communication channels (“Remote controlled and autonomous ships,” 2018). Algorithms can be made better by the collection of data. Communications should be made secure in order to reduce cases of insecurity and cyber security. Autonomous and remote-controlled water vessels will be a thing of the future, but beforehand developers need to gather enough data to reduce false dependence on redundancy.
References
Partner, C. (2020). The virtual experience twin is at the heart of the naval industry Renaissance. Defence Connect – Defence Industry News and Analysis. Web.
Remote-controlled and autonomous ships. (2018). MaritimeCyprus. Web.