Autonomous Surface Vessel with Remote Human on the Loop: System Design for STCW Compliance

Dittmann, Kjeld; Hansen, Peter Nicholas; Papageorgiou, Dimitrios; Jensen, Signe Marie; Lützen, Marie; Blanke, Mogens

doi:10.1016/j.ifacol.2021.10.097

Cited by 16 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The idea that engineers can use existing international crew and safety regulations as a benchmark when developing uncrewed and potentially autonomous vessels has previously been introduced in (Stones, 2017). (Dittmann, 2021), too, discusses how STCW compliance can serve as basis for the development of an autonomous vessel. The current paper, however, compares the content of the WR with (i) a class society guideline to autonomous and remotely operated ships (DNVGL-CG-0264, 2018), ii) the MASS UK Industry Conduct Principles and Code of Practice (UK MASS Code of Practice, 2021) and (iii) scientific literature related to uncrewed and autonomous vessels.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the Existing Watchkeeping Regulations as a Baseline for Developing Functional Requirements and Performance Criteria for Uncrewed Vessels

Kjeldstad,

Kufoalor,

Ulvensøen

et al. 2023

Proceeding of the 33rd European Safety and Reliability Conference

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The development and deployment of uncrewed surface vessels and vessels with some degree of autonomy is seeing a rapid increase. Use cases cover the offshore industry, aquaculture, seabed mapping, water column monitoring, public transport, cargo freight, security, and more. The expected business opportunities and societal benefits are reduced crew and vessel costs, reduced energy consumption, less HSE exposure for employees, and a potential mitigation to the challenge with less people being willing to take a job at sea. Yet, regulations for such vessels do not exist. This lack of regulations causes challenges for both developers of the vessels and for the authorities who shall approve them. Costs increase, time to market increases, the risk picture is unclear, and the advantages these vessels offer to the maritime sector and stakeholders in the ocean space are not delivered as expedite as possible. The objective of this paper is therefore to evaluate how the existing watchkeeping regulations may be used as a baseline for developing functional requirements and performance criteria for uncrewed and potentially autonomous vessels. The focus is on the conventional lookout and navigation crew functions with sub tasks and duties. These functions are selected because they are assumed to be the most challenging to perform from a remote-control center or autonomously. Methodologically, this paper uses a literature review and expert judgements to assess if there is a potential gap between existing regulations and if there is a need for new regulations for uncrewed vessels. The work in this paper is partly related to the Sundbåten autonomous passenger ferry project in Kristiansund, Norway, involving both industry and academic partners.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the Existing Watchkeeping Regulations as a Baseline for Developing Functional Requirements and Performance Criteria for Uncrewed Vessels

Kjeldstad,

Kufoalor,

Ulvensøen

et al. 2023

Proceeding of the 33rd European Safety and Reliability Conference

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“…For an overview of the architecture of the implemented system the reader is referred to [37], for details regarding the sensor fusion please see [38] or [39].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

COLREGs-based Situation Awareness for Marine Vessels - a Discrete Event Systems Approach

et al. 2020

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“…During periods of unattended bridge operation of the vessel, i.e., when the crew onboard the vessel is performing other duties, the shore-based crew of the Remote Control Centre will assume the responsibilities of the Watch Keeping Officer. A critical factor is the shared and sliding responsibility, as described in [33], which describes the mapping from STCW competence requirements to autonomy module functionality. The system engineering process must include the RCC and the autonomy system onboard the vessel, as illustrated in Fig.…”

Section: G Autonomy Enabling Modulesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autonomy for Ships: System Thinking and Engineering

Dittmann

2022

2022 International Conference on Software, Telecommunications and Computer Networks (SoftCOM)

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Marine autonomy research has focused on algorithmic and technical developments, targeting autonomous craft in restricted areas where international rules and regulations are not prioritised. This paper addresses the system engineering aspect of a highly complex system in which the seamless, predictable, and secure interoperability of vendorspecific hardware and software subsystems is a fundamental requirement for designing and implementing cyber-physical systems with artificial intelligence to assist or replace the navigating officer, such as autonomous marine surface vehicles. It addresses international rules in the sector and exhibits a system architecture that can fulfil the criteria for safe behaviour in foreseen occurrences and the capacity to request human aid if the autonomous system cannot manage a problem. The system thinking and engineering provided in this article have been applied to The GreenHopper, a harbour bus currently under construction and intended to undergo certification and enter commercial service.

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Autonomous Surface Vessel with Remote Human on the Loop: System Design for STCW Compliance

Cited by 16 publications

References 16 publications

Evaluating the Existing Watchkeeping Regulations as a Baseline for Developing Functional Requirements and Performance Criteria for Uncrewed Vessels

Evaluating the Existing Watchkeeping Regulations as a Baseline for Developing Functional Requirements and Performance Criteria for Uncrewed Vessels

COLREGs-based Situation Awareness for Marine Vessels - a Discrete Event Systems Approach

Autonomy for Ships: System Thinking and Engineering

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