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» Rolls-Royce unveils «smart navigation system

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Rolls-Royce has developed a unique Intelligent Awareness (IA) situational awareness system as part of its unmanned ship project, which is designed to facilitate navigation in darkness, heavy traffic or challenging weather conditions.

The system collects and processes a large array of ship location and traffic data from various sources and simulates the surrounding environment in three different modes: virtual reality (in 2D and 3D), augmented reality and accuracy mode.

Using the LIDAR Infrared Meteorological Laser Locator, the system generates a 3D map of vessels.

LIDAR uses light in the form of a pulsed laser beam to measure distances. LIDAR data can be combined with GPS data to create three-dimensional environments that allow crews to see what the human eye cannot see.

«The system is in addition to the basic information provided by electronic mapping navigation systems and radar stations. A 3D LIDAR map creates an accurate bird's-eye view of the surroundings»," said Iiro Lindborg, Rolls-Royce's senior manager of remote and autonomous operations.

In accuracy mode, the operator sees the exact distances to objects calculated by LIDAR. This is particularly useful when navigating narrow waterways with dense traffic and when ships are diverging.

The augmented reality mode uses real-time video from the IA sensors.

The detection system identifies both static and dynamic objects, including marine markers and vessels that are not displayed in AIS.

Clicking on a vessel on the monitor screen provides additional information about it - name, type, speed, direction and distance.

In 2D and 3D modes information from sensors is superimposed on the map and the operator can see vessels in a wider environment. In 3D mode the vessel and its surroundings are displayed from a bird's eye view. Similar to augmented reality mode the speed, direction and distance to vessels are displayed here. The operator can also enable the display of restricted areas. Additionally, the system provides information about fairways and depths.

Intelligent Awareness was originally aimed at the cruise ship market, but it can also be used on large container ships and superyachts.

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