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A Study on Automatic Operation Control of Autonomous Ships

자율운항선박의 운항 자동제어 기초 연구

  • Kang, Byung-Sun (Graduate School of Mokpo National Maritime University) ;
  • Jung, Chang-Hyun (Division of Navigation Science, Mokpo National Maritime University)
  • Received : 2020.12.14
  • Accepted : 2021.02.25
  • Published : 2021.02.28

Abstract

In the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution, the interest in autonomous ship technology is increasing as high-tech technologies are being increasingly utilized throughout the industry. Therefore, we conducted a basic study on autonomous ships. In particular, a passenger ship model was produced and an autonomous navigation system was established by applying the ardupilot used for drones. The possibility of automatic control of the autonomous ship operations was confirmed by executing various voyage plans using the built model ship. In the performance test for maintaining the course the model ship could not follow the designated course straight and sailed up to 5.4 m away from the course while navigating in a zigzag (S-shape); however, after the parameters were modified, the deviation distance was reduced to a maximum of 1.8 m. In the turning performance test, the maximum diameter of the turning sphere was found to be approximately 9.3 m, but no significant change could be confirmed even after the parameters were modified. However, the results of our tests on slowing down the ship before arriving at the WP confirmed that the diameter of the turning sphere was reduced to a maximum of approximately 3.2 m. In order to evaluate the stopping performance, the last scheduled stopping position of all experiments was compared with the actual stopping position of the model ship and it was confirmed that the model ship stopped at a point at least 0.4 m and a maximum of 6.2 m away from the stopping position. In the future, improvement of course stability, turning performance, and stopping performance is required through modification and supplementation of various parameters. Moreover, a study on automatic berthing of the model ship through automatic control is planned.

4차 산업혁명 시대를 맞이하면서 첨단기술이 산업 전반에 사용됨에 따라 자율운항선박기술에 대한 관심이 고조되고 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 자율운항선박에 대한 기초 연구로써 모형 선박을 제작하고 드론에 사용되는 아두파일럿(Ardupilot)을 적용시켜 자율운항 제어 시스템을 구축하였다. 구축된 모형선을 활용하여 다양한 항해계획을 실행함으로써 자율운항 선박의 운항 자동제어 가능성을 확인하였다. 침로안정성 실험에서는 모형선이 정해진 침로를 똑바로 따라가지 못하고 지그재그(S자 형태)로 항행하면서 침로에서 최대 5.4 m(4.5 L) 이탈하였으며, 매개변수를 수정하여 이탈거리를 최대 1.8 m(1.5 L)까지 감소시켰다. 선회성능 실험에서는 선회권의 직경이 최대 약 9.3 m(7.8 L)로 나타났는데 매개변수를 수정하여도 큰 변화를 확인할 수 없었다. 하지만 WP 도착 전 감속하도록 실험한 결과 선회권의 직경이 최대 약 3.2 m(2.7 L)로 감소된 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 정지성능을 평가하기 위해 모든 실험의 마지막 정지 예정 위치와 실제 모형선이 정지한 위치를 상호 비교하였으며, 정지 예정 위치로부터 최소 0.4 m(0.3 L), 최대 6.2 m(5.2 L) 떨어진 지점에서 모형선이 정지하였음을 확인할 수 있었다. 추후 다양한 매개변수의 수정·보완을 통한 성능 향상이 이루어진다면 자동제어를 통한 자율운항선박의 자동접안을 위한 연구를 진행할 계획이다.

Keywords

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