Simulation of Intelligent Ship Autopilots

Due to global conditions there is a demand for more economically and ecologically driven ships. The development of autopilots with optimization criterions on essential parameters will therefore be an important research field in the future. In this effort the use of artificial intelligence (AI) methods will have a central position. Aalesund University College (AUC) has taken the consequence of this need and has in cooperation with relevant industry partners established a research activity on the simulation of intelligent ship autopilots. With the use of adequate and powerful simulation tools this gives the opportunity of real-time testing of adaptive methods for optimization of autopilots based on relevant criterions, such as fuel consumption, amount of waste, and distance covered during a given time span.