Geovisual Analytics Environment for Supporting the Resilience of Maritime Surveillance System

International audienceThis paper presents an original approach for supporting the resilience in Maritime Domain Awareness, based on geovisual analytics. While many research projects focus on developing rules for detecting anomalies at by automated means, there is no support to visual exploration led by human operators. We investigate the use of visual methods for analyzing mobility data of ships. Behaviors of interest can be known (modeled) or unknown, asking for various ways of visualizing and studying the information. We assume that supporting the use of geovisual analytics will make the exploration and the analysis process easier, reducing the cognitive load of the tasks led by the actors of maritime surveillance. The detection and the identification of threats at sea are improved by using adequate visualization methods, regarding the context of use. Our suggested framework is based on ontologies for maritime domain awareness and geovisual analytics environments, coupled to rules

A Self-Guided Docking Architecture for Autonomous Surface Vehicles

Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs) provide the ideal platform to further explore the many opportunities in the cargo shipping industry, by making it more profitable and safer. Information retrieved from a 3D LIDAR, IMU, GPS, and Camera is combined to extract the geometric features of the floating platform and to estimate the relative position and orientation of the moor to the ASV. Then, a trajectory is planned to a specific target position, guaranteeing that the ASV will not collide with the mooring facility. To ensure that the sensors are within range of operation, a module has been developed to generate a trajectory that will deliver the ASV to a catch zone where it is able to function properly.A High-Level controler is also implemented, resorting to an heuristic to evaluate if the ASV is within this operating range and also its current orientation relative to the docking platform

Annual General Assembly of the International Association of Maritime Universities

978-84-947311-7-

Integrated satellite-terrestrial connectivity for autonomous ships:Survey and future research directions

An autonomous vessel uses multiple different radio technologies such as satellites, mobile networks and dedicated narrowband systems, to connect to other ships, services, and the remote operations center (ROC). In-ship communication is mainly implemented with wired technologies but also wireless links can be used. In this survey paper, we provide a short overview of autonomous and remote-controlled systems. This paper reviews 5G-related standardization in the maritime domain, covering main use cases and both the role of autonomous ships and that of people onboard. We discuss the concept of a connectivity manager, an intelligent entity that manages complex set of technologies, integrating satellite and terrestrial technologies together, ensuring robust in-ship connections and ship-to-outside connections in any environment. This survey paper describes the architecture and functionalities of connectivity management required for an autonomous ship to be able to operate globally. As a specific case example, we have implemented a research environment consisting of ship simulators with connectivity components. Our simulation results on the effects of delays to collision avoidance confirm the role of reliable connectivity for safety. Finally, we outline future research directions for autonomous ship connectivity research, providing ideas for further work

Modeling the Decision Process of a Joint Task Force Commander

The U.S. military uses modeling and simulation as a tool to help meet its warfighting needs. A key element within military simulations is the ability to accurately represent human behavior. This is especially true in a simulation\u27s ability to emulate realistic military decisions. However, current decision models fail to provide the variability and flexibility that human decision makers exhibit. Further, most decision models are focused on tactical decisions and ignore the decision process of senior military commanders at the operational level of warfare. In an effort to develop a better decision model that would mimic the decision process of a senior military commander, this research sought to identify an underlying cognitive process and computational techniques that could adequately implement it. Recognition-Primed Decision making (RPD) was identified as one such model that characterized this process. Multiagent system simulation was identified as a computational system that could mimic the cognitive process identified by RPD. The result was a model of RPD called RPDAgent. Using an operational military decision scenario, decisions produced by RPDAgent were compared against decisions made by military officers. It was found that RPDAgent produced decisions that were equivalent to its human counterparts. RPDAgent\u27s decisions were not optimum decisions, but decisions that reflected the variability inherent in those made by humans in an operational military environment