“
Data will be collected
from satellite
positioning, radar images, visual
stereo and video cameras, and
AIS transponders.
cessed. This will be done by December be utilised for analysing navigational and
2019,” Thombre explains. radar data.
According to him, data will be col-
lected from satellite positioning, radar
images, visual stereo and video cameras,
”Then, in the spring of 2020, the ”Basically, incoming data from differ- equipment will be actually installed aboard ent sensors as well as from M/S Megastar’s the ship. A short field campaign will be car- existing radars will be combined and ana- ”With the help of artificial intelli-
ried out for data analysis with algorithms.” lysed. It resembles the collection of ’big gence, the ship’s accurate position will
and AIS transponders.
If the sensors are working properly, data’ except that we are concentrating on be determined, with real-time situa-
they will be utilised for onboard data col- the data fusion of navigational data from tional awareness of surrounding traf-
lection for a period of three months. In different sources,” Mr. Ramm-Schmidt fic. The system software will be continu-
the final phase, the collected data will be explains. ously m
onitoring the quality of the data,
thoroughly analysed.
He mentions that development of
new software will also be needed.
DATA EXTRACTED FROM
recognising possible errors of radar imag-
ing.”
”The Megastar that sails between ”Positioning can go astray if naviga-
NUMEROUS SOURCES Helsinki and Tallinn is an ideal test ship tion satellites suffer from interference by
Managing Director of Fleetrange Ltd., cap- since we will be collecting navigation data foreign nations, for instance. In such cases,
tain Henrik Ramm-Schmidt recounts that both from open sea and from approaching it must be determined whether or not posi-
Fleetrange was chosen for the ESA research port. As the ship’s route is relatively short, tioning data can be relied on. Accuracy
project after a bidding competition. there will be numerous testing opportu- of positioning can be improved by utilis-
nities daily.” ing augmentation systems and transmit-
”The emphasis will be largely on the
maritime safety issues of autonomous ves-
ting correction data to the ship’s naviga-
sels. We have know-how of maritime nav- RELIABILITY OF DATA tion system from land-based stations by
igation and system operationality, while MUST BE EVALUATED radio waves or by satellite,” says Ramm-
Aalto University will bring in additional Various types of ships will be encountered Schmidt.
knowledge of artificial intelligence and at the Gulf of Finland, in varying weather automation,” he points out. and visibility conditions.
If visibility at sea is impaired due to
fog or other kinds of bad weather, radars
Recently, Aalto University has applied ”This will yield plenty of data from and laser-based LiDAR systems – as well
artificial intelligence for the analysis of different types of situations within a short as audio and thermal imaging systems –
medical data. The same principles could period of time,” Ramm-Schmidt notes. can be utilised. n
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seatec 2/2019