IKT: Remote Control Centre for Autonomous Ship Support (AuReCo) (2020-2023)
The project is supported by IKTPLUSS program of NFR.
Project partners
- NTNU
- Harbin Engineering University
- Vard Electro AS
- Offshore Simulation Centre (OSC)
- Ålesund Kunnskapspark AS
Project Description
Today’s maritime engineering systems are operating in highly dynamic environments. The challenge is to develop a concept leveraging on the different levels of system specific services already provided by manufacturers, where safety and efficient performance of complex integrated systems can be managed from the early stages of a new build vessel project and throughout the vessel’s life-cycle. In order to be able to respond fast to unexpected events and anomalies, future systems need to become more intelligent. Advanced marine systems should be able to decide between different actions, adapt to dynamic environments and execute high-level task specifications without explicitly being programmed. To meet requirements, they will need access to very realistic models of the current state of the process, and in addition, their own behavior in interaction with the environment in the real world. From a simulation point of view, digital twins are the next wave in modeling, simulation and optimization technology. It will be a significant scientific and operational achievement for the maritime industry, keeping Norway on the technological lead.
This project aims to establish a remote control centre for on-board support of ships. In particular, efforts will be put on the sub-area “intelligence and remote control technology” by analyzing historical/real-time ship data and modelling sophisticated planner, predictor and controller, thereby establishing remote supporting platform. The system will be developed to serve for ships that can be remote-accessed for safety and reliability enhancement.
NTNU Aalesund has built a centre to test technology, methodology and procedure for remote control of various functions on ships at Norwegian Maritime Centre (NMK), as shown in the following figure. The research arena includes all work stations on a ship or in a control centre for remote access of ships. This includes navigation bridge, operation bridge (aft bridge), engine room, crane, ROVs, winch, and operation manager (on-shore and offshore). All interfaces will be real interfaces commonly used in the industry. All work stations will be flexible. Single controls can be replaced for customized set-up and work places will be modularized, and a minimum of interfaces to simplify testing of equipment of different makes. All working packages in this project will be implemented in the remote control lab.
