KRISO Starts Full-scale Operation of its Autonomous Ship Performance Demonstration Center

□ The Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (President Hong Key Yong, hereafter “KRISO”) announced its plans to commence full-scale operation of the Autonomous Ship Performance Demonstration Center, located at Goneuljigu, Ulsan, starting H2 2023, to perform on-land and off-shore performance validations of autonomous ships.

< Test Vessel for Autonomous Ship Offshore Test Bed (Haeyangnuri-ho) >

□ Autonomous vessels are the next-generation of value-added ships, which converge integrated digital technology, such as big data, AI, and advanced sensors to autonomously navigate via optimal routes, without the intervention of a human crew. This in turn improves the economic feasibility and stability as incidents based on human errors are prevented. Recognized as a future growth engine of the shipbuilding and maritime sector, in addition to eco-friendly ships, nations around the world are doubling down on their technology R&D efforts to secure global leadership positions.

< Front view of the Autonomous Ship Performance Demonstration Center >

□ KRISO has been engaged in the autonomous ship technology development project since 2020, with the aim to deliver IMO Level 3 autonomous navigation technology, which shall allow remote operations of unmanned vessels.

□ As efforts towards the implementation of autonomous ships became more tangible, KRISO rolled out its offshore test bed vessel ‘Haeyangnuri-ho’ and the Autonomous Ship Performance Demonstration Center last year. The Center is equipped with core technologies, including a simulation-based test bed, digital twin bridge / engine monitoring system, and an integrated control system, and carries out performance demonstrations for the assessment of core technologies for autonomous ships.

□ The simulation-based test bed provides an operational environment for autonomous ships with scenarios that cannot be recreated on real waters to perform performance tests. The facility allows analysis of various situations prior to real water tests. 

□ Moreover, the digital twin bridge / engine monitoring system allows real-time monitoring of the operational and engine states of autonomous ships while testing on real waters. It also supports safe real-water testing by implementing an integrated control system, which monitors real-time key navigation information and the navigational route of the test vessel, and prevents collisions by tracing and forecasting the routes.

< Test Tank for model ships with a safe navigation algorithm >

□ To date, KRISO has conducted performance tests of model ships at its Ocean Engineering Basin and reservoirs. Starting H2 of this year, it will roll out full-fledged performance validations of the core autonomous ship technologies, including a situation awareness system for preventing test ship collisions and incidents in the offshore environment, an intelligent autonomous navigation system that creates and determines various navigational routes, and a remote control system that allows on-land control of the vessels in case of emergencies. 

□ KRISO President Hong Key Yong reiterated his plans to “fully rollout performance validations of test ships, mainly at the Autonomous Ship Performance Demonstration Center, to build on their track record, and play a key role in framing global standards by leading the development of autonomous ship technologies.”