Autonomous Navigation System Architecture
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The autonomous navigation system includes four main modules: route planning, situational awareness, collision avoidance, and ship state definition. The route planning module imports routes from land and maps dynamic obstacles using sensors. The situational awareness module fuses sensor data to extract information on the ship's surroundings. The collision avoidance module is responsible for safe navigation by deviating from the planned route if risks are detected. The ship state definition module collects data from the other modules and determines the ship's allowed operation mode. All modules are connected to each other and to the ship's propulsion and positioning systems to enable autonomous or remote-controlled navigation.
Autonomous Navigation System Architecture
- 1. Autonomous Navigation System Architecture Universidad Marítima del Caribe Maritime Engineering Maritime English Compiled by César Rivas
- 2. The autonomous navigation system includes the route planning module, situational awareness module, collision avoidance module, and the ship’s state definition module. All these modules are connected to each other, and to the ship’s dynamic positioning and propulsion systems. The Autonomous Navigation System follows a predefined voyage plan, but with a certain degree of freedom to adjust the route autonomously, e.g. due to an arising collision situation or significant weather changes.
- 3. Route Planning Module This module is basically an ECDIS, but the planned route is imported from land. At sea and in harbor areas, this system uses both land and nautical charts as in manned vessels, but dynamic obstacles are mapped using the situation awareness system. Mapping dynamic obstacles is done the same way as in manned vessels using AIS and radars, but in unmanned vessels, it uses more sensors and more information for mapping. It does not plan routes in real time as the Collision Avoidance module is responsible for maneuvers to avoid obstacles.
- 4. Situational Awareness Module This module is connected to multiple sensor devices. It fuses the sensor data and extracts information on the ship’s surroundings to be used by Collision Avoidance system. It can also perform reduction of sensor data for more efficient off-ship data communication.
- 5. Collision Avoidance Module This module is responsible for safe and collision-free navigation. It uses information from the Route Planning module to follow a path that leads to the destination but can deviate from the course if a risk of collision is detected. It has two main functionalities, one is an assessment of the collision risk and the other is to navigate the ship safely both in the harbor and in the open sea.
- 6. Ship State Definition Module This module, also called Virtual Captain, collects data from the other modules, and shares the information of the ship’s systems condition with the operator at the shore station. It determines the allowed ship operation mode, such as autonomous, remote-control or failsafe.
- 7. The ships’ dynamic positioning systems purpose is to maintain ships adjusted position and heading with help of GNSS devices, wind sensors, propulsion systems e.g. Azipod-system, propellers and rudder and bow/aft thrusters.
- 8. Datalink and communication are main components of the autonomous navigation systems. When voyage planning is done by the operator, s/he also has to select the level of autonomy for the vessel. Meaning that the operator can basically choose if the ship is only remote-controlled or fully autonomous. Of course, 100% autonomous ships do not exist yet.
- 9. There is an area closed to public ship traffic for testing autonomous ships in open waters. It is an area of about 18 kilometers located near the coast of Finland. It was chosen by companies because of good connectivity and for autonomous ships to be also tested in ice conditions. The name of this area is Jaakonmeri test area. For Your Information
- 10. References Hyvonen, M.; Kolu, A. et all. (2016). Remote and Autonomous Ships. The Next Steps. AWAA project coordination. Online Document. Retrieved from: https://www.rolls-royce.com/~/media/Files/R/Rolls-Royce/documents/customers/marine/ship- intel/aawa-whitepaper-210616.pdf