See motion in context
Combine position and heading with IMU measurements to display vessel movement, orientation and planned-versus-measured routes.
SIMULATION & VESSEL INTEGRATION
From simulation
to vessel operation.
A digital view of vessel movement, sensor observations and operating state—for mission preparation, supervision and review.
Today: visual simulation and a separate indoor Marine Awareness System prototype. Live vessel integration is proposed.
A leader, a follower. A shared route.
Watch the 30-second Ghent simulation: AVATAR III leads while AVATAR II follows its track. The dashed amber line is the planned route; cyan and purple lines show the simulated vessel tracks. This demonstration uses simulated motion, with live vessel and sensor integration proposed.
FROM THE SIMULATION WORK
Explore the operating scene.
Actual development captures of the port and bridge scenarios. Vessel geometry and behaviour are illustrative.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors / ODbL.
PROPOSED OPERATOR EXPERIENCE
Connect measurements
to the operating picture.
Know what the view represents
Add nearby observations, link status, operating mode and data age. Identify the last known state during an interruption.
Review the same event
Align sensor observations, vessel state and events on one timeline for operator review, diagnosis and trial evaluation.
PROPOSED R&D PROGRAMME
Four stages over 18 months.
From mobilisation, with readiness reviews before vessel trials and autonomous operation.
Define
Agree the vessel, operator, interfaces, operating limits and baseline.
Requirements & acceptance criteriaIntegrate
Connect the Marine Awareness System, vessel data and digital twin. Verify sensing, live displays and replay on the bench and while moored.
Integrated demonstratorValidate
Test awareness, initial fallback and reconnection during supervised low-speed trials. Review readiness for autonomous control.
Trial evidence & commissioning methodExtend autonomy
Develop and test onboard navigation decisions and control during loss of the shore connection, within a defined operating envelope.
Bounded demonstrator & deployment assessmentThe scope, funding, partner participation and schedule remain to be agreed. Automatic vessel control has not been demonstrated by the current prototype.
PROPOSED RESILIENCE FUNCTIONS
When the shore link
is interrupted.
The remote operations centre (ROC) and vessel need a predictable transition, bounded onboard behaviour and an explicit return of control.
Detect and select the response
Test command-link loss, GNSS loss and RTK-correction loss separately. Choose a vessel-specific fallback using the remaining capability.
Keep essential decisions onboard
The autonomy stage would use local maps, routes, sensing and limits to decide whether an authorised route segment can continue or recovery is needed.
Restore control deliberately
Exchange state and event logs, confirm control authority and reject expired commands before remote control resumes.
Validation progresses from simulation and controller tests to supervised low-speed trials, with a responsible operator and local override.
START WITH A VESSEL & AN OPERATING QUESTION
Define the first pilot.
A small survey or port-service vessel in a defined low-speed area is the proposed starting point. Ghent / North Sea Port is a candidate location, subject to vessel and site access.
Discuss a digital twin pilot