Industrial Research of ROC for swarm operations

ACUA Ocean（AO）是一家清洁海洋初创公司，设计了一艘长续航力液氢动力海上自主水面船（MASS），也称为无人水面船（USV）。通过结合海事领域发展最快的两项技术：氢气和自动化，我们的船舶可以在5节和8400 Nm的范围内提供长达70天的海上续航力，并通过与传统海事船舶相比减少99.1%的温室气体来实现环境效益。加快海事部门自动化的采用对于提高海上生产力和安全性，将人类从危险和危及生命的角色中解脱出来，并将这些工作转移到远程操作中心（ROC）的高技能技术角色中也至关重要。然而，自动驾驶技术的快速商业化取决于力量倍增效应。有了MASS，这是一种在一个群体中操作多艘船只以实现最大地理覆盖的能力，称为分布式海上行动。部署大批船只可以通过优化远程操作员级别，以更低的成本增加安全、保护、海洋监测和数据收集的覆盖范围。Swarm通过大规模制造和运营船舶的能力进一步支持成本效益节约-降低最终客户的成本。该项目旨在通过可行性和开发用于Swarm操作的远程操作中心（ROC）来加速英国作为机器人和自主系统的世界领导者的地位。该项目研究监管，人工智能，人类行为科学，指挥和控制软件集成，远程操作中心（ROC）的物理和工程设计的可行性，并审查管理蜂群所需的指挥和控制（C2）系统。AO将进一步评估他们在涉及蜂群的复杂场景中的指挥和控制解决方案。该项目还将评估一套用于超视距和超视距通信场景的边缘计算技术。此外，软件工具将有助于验证过程，通过减少安全操作氢气系统和处理船上多域传感器数据所需的直接控制来减轻操作员的负担。该项目将在实现更安全的群体和船舶操作方面迈出巨大的一步。在此可行性研究期间建立的监管，运营和技术交付成果和专有技术将使海事行业加速采用多种类型的自动驾驶船舶。

ACUA Ocean (AO) is a clean-maritime start-up that has designed (patent pending) a long-endurance liquid hydrogen-powered maritime autonomous surface ship (MASS), also referred to as an uncrewed surface vessel (USV). By combining two of the fastest growing technologies in the maritime sector: hydrogen and autonomy, our vessels can deliver increased offshore endurance of up to 70 days at 5 Knots and a range of 8400 Nm as well as environmental benefits by reducing GHG by 99.1% compared to traditional maritime vessels. Accelerating the adoption of automation in the maritime sector is also critical to increasing productivity and safety at sea, removing humans from dangerous and life-threatening roles and moving those jobs into high-skilled technology roles in Remote Operation Centres (ROCs). However, the rapid commercialisation of autonomous technologies is dependent upon the force multiplier effect. With MASS this is the ability to operate multiple vessels in a swarm for maximum geographic coverage, known as distributed maritime operations. Deployment of swarms of vessels increases coverage for both security, protection, ocean monitoring and data collection at reduced cost through the optimisation of remote operator levels. Swarms further support cost efficiency savings through the ability to manufacture and operate vessels at scale - reducing cost to the end customer.This project looks to accelerate the UK's position as a world leader in robotics and autonomous systems through the feasibility and development of a remote operating centre (ROC) for swarm operations. This project examines the feasibility of the regulatory, Artificial Intelligence, human behavioural science, command and control software integration, physical and engineering design of Remote Operation Centres (ROC) and reviews the command and control (C2) systems needed for the management of swarms. AO will look to further evaluate their command and control solution in complex scenarios involving swarms. The project will also evaluate a suite of edge-based compute technologies for BVLOS and over-the-horizon communication scenarios. Additionally, software tools will help validate processes that will mitigate operator burden through reduction in direct control required to safely operate the hydrogen system and process multi-domain sensor data on-board the vessel. This project will take a huge step forward in enabling safer swarm and vessel operations. The regulatory, operational and technical deliverables and know-how established during this feasibility research will enable the accelerated adoption of multiple types of autonomous vessels across the maritime industry.