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How AR makes its mark on a ferry design process
Augmented/mixed reality can fulfil design and project assurance on a multi-vessel order, writes SSI senior solution specialist Simon Crook
Demanding ship design and construction projects come in all shapes and sizes. While the vessel might feature a relatively straightforward design, other factors can quickly complicate the process.
When tasked with the design of a series of seven ferries for operation on a busy commuter route in Australia, Incat Crowther knew it would need to employ the latest digital technology to fulfil the brief for project design and assurance.
The work included multiple stakeholders including the ferry owner, the operator, shipyard Richardson Devine Marine and the ferry workforce.
The high degree of consultation required made the use of a 3D digital ship model an essential component. Once the vessel design was created, Incat Crowther would be able to use the model to share feedback with the vessel crews using the digital twin.
One of the fixed requirements of the owners was that the ship design would not require new training for the crews. With multiple classes of vessel already operating in the harbour, they, and the operator, were keen to avoid adding further complexity.
“We were easily able to create the new design in SSI ShipConstructor and stream the model into HoloLens,” explains Incat Crowther naval architect Dougal Harris. “The masters were able to virtually sit in wheelhouse at full scale, understand the proposed changes and whether any subsequent edits were necessary.”
During the construction phase, Incat Crowther used ShipConstructor to create a structural model including just the ship’s frame and brackets. Downloading this to HoloLens, Mr Harris was able to go onto the shop floor and overlay the virtual model over the ship and check that frames and brackets were in the correct location.
“Being able to use mixed reality for design verification is ideal for a multiple ship order and can help the designer deliver project assurance. It also makes sense to align the structural model with the ship frames before aluminium shell plates are cut and fitted” adds Mr Harris.
The mixed/augmented reality offered by HoloLens could be used to deliver future training needs. While the series built by Richardson Devine Marine was designed as near-identical sisters, future orders could feature different configurations or propulsion technology.
Any changes to the design, whether in the engineroom or wheelhouse, can be communicated via augmented reality, including all onboard systems and controls. A vessel master could use HoloLens or a similar platform to complete vessel-specific training prior to the vessel’s launch, shortening its time-to-service.
“We’ve leveraged HoloLens to stream the 3D model onto screens, allowing clients to experience the vessel at full scale.,” explains Mr Harris. “Because we can scale the virtualisation to full size, you see the model as designed, making it ideal for training and familiarisation.”
Incat Crowther combined SSI ShipConstructor and Reality capture to ‘close the loop’ between vessel design and construction as part of its quality assurance process. The designer undertook a full 3D laser scan of every space in the vessel and used NavisWorks to overlay the scan onto the ShipConstructor model.
This ensured harmonisation between the digital twin and scanned model, enabling the stakeholders to rely on the accuracy of the digital twin compared to the physical vessel.
Mr Harris says the technology of mixed/augmented reality will play an increasing role in the design and verification process, not least for its ability to foster collaboration, shorten workflows and timelines.
“How much we use it will vary client to client, but we have seen the benefit though the design and consultation process; there are very strong use cases and engineering applications. It’s highly accurate and it’s much more than a model of the surface; it enables you to get into the detail of the design.”
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