This I³-project addresses hydrodynamics of autonomous ships in waves as one of the key steps along the development path leading to fully autonomous ships. The main challenge is to create a cyber-physical system, controlled by computer algorithms and sensor-based environmental monitoring, to ensure collision avoidance, ship safety and economic efficiency as well as to reduce the environmental impact under arbitrary conditions in real time.

The objective of this I³-project is to create a general simulator-based test environment addressing the relevant environmental conditions, its hydrodynamics and structural consequences, thus creating a so called Digital Twin (DT) concept for ships and structures in waves. A further and more general objective is to develop a methodology for the exploration of ML as basis for decision making of autonomous ships and structures. Hereby, this I³-project will serve as initial and indispensable first step forming the basis for a long-time research focus. For this purpose, two DT are to be developed: one is based on physical and numerical models, and the other on machine learning (ML) algorithms.

Project Coordinator: Marco Klein

Funding: TUHH

Duration: 2 years