Unmanned Navigation Development Prospects Based on Structural Analysis of Automated Vessel Control System
Abstract The reduction of vessel crew counts and increased automation have been observed in marine and river vessels for several decades. These processes are based, firstly, on the development of modern technology and, secondly, on the urge to reduce the so-called human factor, which is recognized today as one of the key causes of water transport emergencies. It is expected that unmanned navigation will help reduce operational costs, increase the carrying capacity of vessels, and reduce the impact of the human factor on the safety of navigation. This, in its turn, requires the development of a reliable and safe automated control system for unmanned vessels. This article aims to assess the development prospects of unmanned navigation based on the structural analysis of such systems. In the first part of this article, the authors review the classification of control systems depending on the degree of vessel autonomy and the generalized structure of the unmanned vessel control system. In the second part, the authors review the control system structure for a remote-control unmanned vessel and that for an autonomous unmanned vessel.
