{mprestriction ids="1,2"}In the demonstration test in Helsinki the ship model was able to detect obstacles in the ice tank through the use of onboard sensors, manoeuvring around them without operator input before mooring itself automatically to a target pier. The test was carried out in ice-free waters, the company notes.
The wireless model used in the test is equipped with battery powered propulsion units, a data transfer connection to the ‘shore facility’, and an autonomous navigation system that routes the vessel around the obstacles detected by the onboard sensors.
The various components are connected using Distributed Intelligent Vessel Components (DIVEC), a custom developed network framework that provides a protocol for connecting devices and transferring data between them.
DIVEC offers an adaptable infrastructure that can be interfaced with third party systems and components, and Aker notes that the technology used in the autonomous ship model tests in the laboratory are also adaptable to semi and full scale prototypes.{/mprestriction}
