All Hands off Deck: US UK Navies Explore the Potential of Autonomous Surface Vessels

摘要

Over time, both commercial ships and naval vessels have embodied increasing levels of automation as a means to improve safety, increase efficiency, and reduce crew size. The bridge and machinery control space, for example, are both areas where the introduction of automated processes and decision support means that sailors increasingly play a monitoring or supervisory role. For example, while modern integrated bridge systems can programme a defined course for an autopilot to follow, it remains necessary for an officer of the watch to be present on a ship's bridge to maintain a look out and take appropriate actions in the event of encounters with other sea traffic. Now, however, advances in information technology, digitisation and Artificial Intelligence (AI)/machine learning are paving the way for a new generation of autonomous ships able to steer, navigate and, if necessary, make decisions about any change in control settings independent of any human intervention. And while not all autonomous systems are unmanned, the development of "un-crewed" ships implementing advanced "intelligent" autonomous behaviours is increasingly the focus of attention for the maritime sector.