• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.66-74
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• 2023

With the increase of interest in developing Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), an optimal ship route planning is gradually gaining popularity as one of the important subsystems for autonomy of modern marine vessels. In the present paper, an optimal ship route planning model for MASS is proposed using a nonlinear MPC approach together with a nonlinear MMG model. Results drawn from this study demonstrated that the optimization problem for the ship route was successfully solved with satisfaction of the nonlinear dynamics of the ship and all constraints for the state and manipulated variables using the nonlinear MPC approach. Given that a route generation system capable of accounting for nonlinear dynamics of the ship and equality/inequality constraints is essential for achieving fully autonomous navigation at sea, it is expected that this paper will contribute to the field of autonomous vehicles by demonstrating the performance of the proposed optimal ship route planning model.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 2021.11a
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• pp.78-80
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• 2021

This study is based on Degree of Recognition and AHP surveys for experts, this study investigates changes in the demand of seafarers in response to changes in the shipping industry environment in which Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships(MASS) emerge according to the application of the fourth industrial revolution technology to ships, and it looks into changes in seafarers' skills. It also analyzes and proposes a plan for cultivating seafarers accordingly. As a result of Degree of Recognition and AHP analysis, it is analyzed that a new training system is required because the current training and education system may cover the job competencies of emergency response, caution and danger navigation, general sailing, cargo handling, seaworthiness maintenance, emergency response, and ship maintenance and management, but jobs such as remote control, monitoring diagnosis, device management capability, and big data analysis require competency for unmanned and shore based control.By evaluating the importance of change factors in the duties of seafarers in Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships, this study provides information on seafarers educational institutions response strategies for nurturing seafarers and prioritization of resource allocation, etc. The importance of factors was compared and evaluated to suggest changes in the duties of seafarers and methods of nurturing seafarers according to the introduction of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships.It is expected that this study is meaningful as it systematically derived the duties and competency factors of seafarers of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships from a practical point of view and analyzed the perception level of each relevant expert to diagnose expert-level responses to the introduction of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.992-1001
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• 2022

The maritime traffic analysis has been conducted in various ways to solve problems arising from the complex marine environment. However, recent trends in the maritime industry, such as the development of the maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS), suggest that maritime traf ic analysis needs change. Accordingly, based on the studies conducted over the past decade for improvements, automatic identification system (AIS) data is mainly used for maritime traffic analysis. Moreover, the use of geographic information that directly af ects ship operation is relatively insufficient. Therefore, this study presented a method of using a combination of shape format data and AIS data to enhance maritime traffic analysis in preparation for the commercialization of autonomous ships. Consequently, extractable marine traffic characteristics were presented when shape format data were used for marine traffic analysis. This is expected to be used for marine traffic analysis for the introduction of autonomous ships in the future.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.183-188
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• 2022

Recently, more and more researches aimed at the development of automated and autonomous ships are appearing in the scientific environment. One of the main reason is the need to solve the problems of safe navigation and reducing accidents due to human factor, as well as the ever-increasing problem associated with the lack of qualified maritime personnel. Development of technologies based on application of artificial intelligence also plays important role, after all for realization of autonomous navigation concept and enhancement of ship automatic maneuvering processes, advancement of maneuvering functions and elaboration of specific algorithms on prevention of close quarter situations and dangerous approach of ships will be required. The purpose of this work is the review of preconditions of occurrence of the autonomous ship navigation conception, overview of introduction stages and prospects for ship remote control based on unmanned technologies, analysis of technical and intellectual decisions of autonomous surface ships, main research tendencies. The research revealed that the technology of autonomous ship navigation requires further development and improvement, especially in terms of the data transmission protocols upgrading, sensors of navigation information and automatic control systems modernization, which allows to perform monitoring of equipment with the aim of improving the functions of control over the autonomous surface ship operation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2021.10a
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• pp.18-20
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• 2021

In order to prevent collision accidents of ships, which has been increasing recently, research on artificial intelligence-based autonomously operated ships (Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship, MASS) is underway. However, most of the studies related to autonomous ships mainly target medium-to-large ships due to the size and cost of the autonomous navigation system, and the sensors used here have a problem in that it is difficult to mount them on small ships. Therefore, this paper provides a path tracking system equipped with GPS and IMU sensors for autonomous operation of small ships. GPS and IMU sensors are utilized to determine the exact position of the vessel, which allows the proposed system to manually control the small vessel model to create a path and then when the small vessel travels the same path. Use the Pure Pursuit algorithm to follow the path. As a result, In this research, it is expected that a lightweight and low-cost sensor can be used to develop an autonomous operation system for small ships at low cost.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.298-305
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• 2021

Identifying the effect of turning characteristics on collision avoidance for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) can provide a key to avoid the collision of MASS. The purpose of this study was to derive a method to identify the effect of turning characteristics, which can be changed by various rudder angles and the ship's speed, on collision avoidance. The turning circle was observed using a mathematical model of a 161-meter-long ship, and it was analyzed that the turning circle had an effect on collision avoidance through numerical simulations of collision avoidance for four collision situations of two ships. The evaluation results using the two variables, the minimum relative distance between two ships and the minimum time at the minimum relative distance, demonstrated that the rudder angle has a major influence on the change of the minimum relative distance, and the ship's speed has a major influence on the change of the minimum time. The evaluation method proposed in this study was expected to be applicable to collision avoidance as a measures in remote control of MASS.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.395-402
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• 2019

The development and operation of the MASS (Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship) is being actively discussed for more efficient and safer maritime transportation solutions. The autonomous navigation technology has positive aspects such as the prevention of marine accidents, improvement of fuel efficiency of ships and cost reduction, and negative aspects such as job loss, task change, and security problems. It is expected that there will be new human element issues such as the situation awareness of remote operators, because the shore-based control will be conducted when fully autonomous ships are in operation. In this paper, we consider major human element issues that should be factored in the development and operation of MASS, and suggest a method of HRA (Human Reliability Analysis) for P IFs (Performance Influencing Factors) of the remote operators that are expected according to the shore-based control.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.473-481
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• 2023

In this study, a simulation system was developed to verify autonomous navigation algorithm in complex maritime traffic areas. In particular, real-world maritime traffic scenario was applied by considering near real-time maritime traffic information provided by Korean e-Navigation service. For this, a navigation simulation system of Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) was integrated with an e-Navigation equipment, called Electronic Chart System (ECS). To verify autonomous navigation algorithm in the simulation system, initial conditions including initial position of an own ship and a set of paths for the ship to follow are assigned by an operator. Then, considering real-world maritime traffic information obtained from the service, the simulation is implemented in which the ship repeatedly travels by avoiding surrounding obstacles (e.g., approaching ships). In this paper, the developed simulation system and its application on verification of the autonomous navigation algorithm in complex maritime traffic areas are introduced.

• Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.507-513
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• 2018

The maritime autonomous surface ship is automatically collects and manages various information necessary for the operation to minimize human intervention and safely perform the mission assigned to the ship. And the ship may autonomously operate the partial or entire route to the destination determined by the ship himself. This ship navigation technology allows partially remote control the ship to be operated if necessary. The maritime autonomous surface ship (MASS) should collect and manage signals of various navigation communication equipments and engines mounted on the ship for safe operation. This requires a common platform technology. In this paper, we propose a common platform that is the core of smart ship implementation. Territorial authorities and ships are connected by satellite or terrestrial communication. In such a communication environment, information is exchanged smoothly in real time. This allows the onshore authorities to monitor ships and provide remote control to enable safe vessel navigation at sea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.256-265
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• 2021

Ground, sea and air mobility, such as vehicles, ships, and airplanes, are generally operated by people. Based on the innovative development of autonomous decision-making systems and artificial intelligence (AI) following the recent fourth industrial revolution, research and development on maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS) is been actively performed around the world. Before the realization of the commercialization of MASS in international maritime transport, it is urgent to clarify the characteristics of this ship and its international legal status. This paper aims to analyze the concern of whether a ship without crew members will eventually be operated as a fully unmanned ship or can be recognized as a ship under international law as the number of crew members is gradually reduced owing to the development stage of autonomous ships. Consequently, based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), it was found that MASS has the same international legal status as general ships. In addition this paper presents the working principles of enacting and revising the IMO Conventions and international legal measures necessary for the safe operation of MASS.