The future is autonomous
The expectations of available functions in maritime control systems are increasing. Rather than having an operator steering a simple control system, the input to the control system is a mission.
The control system must reliably adapt to different environmental impacts. More and more high precision sensor data is also available making it possible for the control system to implement more advanced functions.
Autonomy also requires reliability. Reliability requires simplicity. If an autonomous or remotely controlled vessel or vehicle is failing in its mission, the cost of the operation is doubled as it requires a back-up operator doing manual control.
Autonomous systems are more complicated. This also requires digital solutions.
It is possible to implement autonomous systems only in hardware, but this will most likely become very expensive and unreliable. This is why an autonomous system should be implemented as a digital system and not a hardware dependent and single purpose system.
ioStudio has available two solutions: The Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) and the Maritime Autonomous Vehicle (MAV). A MAV is mainly built with embedded hardware and is battery powered. A MASS system is built with off-the-shelf components approved for use in maritime control systems. An ioStudio digital system is built for both types of solutions.
Autonomy in motion steering systems requires motions sensing, target sensing and motion control. A motion sensing and control system is based on high precision sensing with correction data updates. A fleet of MAVs also requires low cost, but high precision solutions. Target identification systems need several inputs both on standard protocols, but also proprietary interfaces. Future systems need to set the reference for motion control based on target identification and safe operation rules.
