Named ‘Focus Brain’ series aspiring development of artificial intelligence for autonomous navigation

Tokyo - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) announced that the company, along with MOL Marine Co., Ltd., National Maritime Research Institute of National Institute of Maritime, Port and Aviation Technology, and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology have signed a contract under which they will conduct a joint study on collision avoidance algorithms and autonomous collision avoidance. 

The project members will study collision avoidance algorithms and autonomous navigation/remote ship operation system. The system will be assessed by active watch officers using a ship handling simulator and actual vessels, in preparation for installing on in-service vessels.

In the project, AI technology (Note 1), such as rule-based AI and deep reinforcement learning technique, and Obstacle Zone by Target (OZT) (Note 2) algorithm are used to make a decision to avoid collision dangers and to take actions to avoid the target ships. 

MOL has been already categorized its research on navigation support systems related to “recognition” such as “AR Navigation Information Display System” (Note 3) as its “FOCUS EYE” series. In order to accelerate its programs to advance safe operation and to realize autonomously navigated vessels (Note 4), MOL has newly set up “FOCUS BRAIN” series to categorize navigation support systems related to “decision making,” such as the collision avoidance.

MOL has moved ahead with advanced support of safe operation and reduction of its environmental impact, as set out in the MOL's Smart Ship Project “ISHIN NEXT”, which began in November 2016, and aims to become customers’ first choice as a logistics business partner by applying ICT technology to improve service quality and efficiency.