Development of an America's Cup 45 tacking simulator

This paper describes the development of an AC45 simulator conducted as a student Master’s project at the University of Southampton. The main aim was to be able to asses and improve the tacking skills of the helm and the crew through systematic training. The physical interface of the simulator replicates the seating position of the helmsman and the main trimmer and the graphical representation provides the users with visual cues of the simulated boat, boundaries and marks for a sample race course. The theoretical model uses hydrodynamic manoeuvring coefficients based on empirical formulae and experimental data. The aerodynamic forces are pre-calculated using a full-scale RANS CFD simulation. The accuracy of the model is verified against the AC45 racing tracking data to ensure that the speed loss during a tack, experienced by the users of the simulator, is as close to reality as possible. The ultimate aim of the project was to study the potential of the simulator to assess and train the crews, improving their skill in tacking the boat effectively. This has been done by examining the performance of two groups of users over a series of practice sessions. The simulator could be potentially used for training the helmsmen of the Youth America’s Cup Red-Bull teams, which have limited budgets, training days and sailing experience compared to the professional AC sailor

Automatic collision avoidance of ships

One of the key elements in automatic simulation of ship manoeuvring in confined waterways is route finding and collision avoidance. This paper presents a new practical method of automatic trajectory planning and collision avoidance based on an artificial potential field and speed vector. Collision prevention regulations and international navigational rules have been incorporated into the algorithm. The algorithm is fairly straightforward and simple to implement, but has been shown to be effective in finding safe paths for all ships concerned in complex situations. The method has been applied to some typical test cases and the results are very encouraging

Simulation-based model course to demonstrate seafarers' competence for deck officers' discipline

Postprint (published version

Inland Waterway Traffic Simulator

peer reviewe

Simulator Demonstrations of Different Retrofit Options of a Self-propelled Inland Vessel

The project MoVe IT! (www.moveit-fp7.eu), funded by the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Union, was focussed on modernisation of inland waterway vessels by retrofitting. In order to stimulate an implementation of the results by the industry, visualization of the positive impacts was realised by a set of vivid demonstrators. In this paper, the demonstrations by simulators for a single screw motor cargo vessel of the type Johann Welker are described.The motion simulations are carried out by a custom made (for inland vessels developed) computer program, which use common naval architect force calculation algorithms and a new approximation theory for added masses.The simulator demonstrations comprise descriptions and visualisations of ship lengthening, application of different rudder and a new propulsion device. Five different cases are examined, the original vessel and four retrofit options.First retrofit variant is the lengthened vessel with original rudder and propeller. Other two analysis are performed changing only the rudder system. In fourth simulator demonstration the original propeller is changed to a pump propeller (a novel propulsion device).The environment are in the simulator demonstrations: constant draught of the vessel, and calm, infinite deep waterway.As results of simulator demonstrations the effects on fuel consumption and manoeuvrability are discussed in the paper

Maritime cognitive workload assessment

The human factor plays the key role for safety in many industrial and civil every-day operations in our technologized world. Human failure is more likely to cause accidents than technical failure, e.g. in the challenging job of tugboat captains. Here, cognitive workload is crucial, as its excess is a main cause of dangerous situations and accidents while being highly participant and situation dependent. However, knowing the captain’s level of workload can help to improve man-machine interaction. The main contributions of this paper is a successful workload indication and a transfer of cognitive workload knowledge from laboratory to realistic settings