Maritime transport currently faces significant challenges, including increases in transport volumes and more stringent environmental requirements. Shortage of skilled workers at sea is also a possible threat for the future. Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning Sensor Fusion for Autonomous Vessel Navigation (Maritime AI-NAV) will see how these challenges are to be answered by technology.

In Maritime AI-NAV data will be gathered at the Tallink Grupp’s newest vessel Megastar on the Helsinki-Tallinn route on the Baltic Sea. The technology will combine data from visual images, environmental sound recordings, RADAR and LiDAR ranging, satellite navigation, and vessel transponders. These sensors will be installed on the Megastar and the data processing will be performed using innovative artificial intelligence and machine learning software.

Today the crew always refer to multiple devices providing overlapping information so that defects in any one device can be easily identified and excluded. An autonomous navigation system should work on a similar principle.

The goal is to automatically identify and recognize objects, such as navigation aids and other vessels and boats around the ship and provide improved situational awareness information through sensor fusion.