Research project set to develop autonomous intelligence for vessel validation

The partners plan to move beyond the current methods of one-time validation of a vessel, autonomous function or software release.

They anticipate using simulation models, digital twins and AI components for longer-term validation of whole assets, including when software and communications systems are upgraded, and vessels working under new environmental and operational conditions.

Partners will develop a virtual assurance framework (VAF) to create digitally traceable, audit-ready evidence which they consider relevant to autonomous and safety-critical maritime applications,

Virtual Vehicle’s new COMET research centre in Graz, Austria, is at the centre of this SDM research and development programme.

“With COMET SDM, we are taking the decisive step from virtual validation towards virtual assurance,” said Virtual Vehicle chief technical officer, Daniel Watzenig.

“We are creating the foundation for a new generation of safe and trustworthy AI-supported systems in mobility.”

This project has a wide cross-sector remit as it covers automotive, rail, health technology, energy and defence as well as maritime.

“The software-defined decade has begun”

Partners will develop technologies to support the virtual engineering and validation of complex vessel functions and autonomous systems.

“The software-defined decade has begun,” said Virtual Vehicle chief executive Jost Bernasch.

“Europe must combine its strengths in engineering and industrial excellence with software, data, and AI to remain competitive in the future.”

Trustworthy simulation should improve transparency of uncertainties and provide robust evidence for development, validation and certification.

Autonomous intelligence should address safe and verifiable AI for perception, decision-making and unmanned systems, including autonomous navigation modules and uncrewed surface vessels.

There will also be a focus on adaptive, context-aware architectures and the integration of software-defined systems with infrastructure and cloud environments.

A living-innovation laboratory will complement these research areas by transferring research results into demonstrators, prototypes and solutions with practical and commercial potential.