BUILDING ACCEPTANCE FOR AUTONOMOUS TRANSIT THROUGH UNDERSTANDING

Understanding creates acceptance. This is the premise behind the new CAPTN project X-Ferry. With this research project, the CAPTN initiative is taking another step towards realizing its idea of developing a mobility chain of self-driving, safe and clean vehicles. After the Fjord Area, 5G and Flex projects, which laid the foundation for autonomous shipping in Kiel, the focus is now on explaining the technical processes and communicating with users. Initially, the focus will remain on ships. The new project will research systems that will increase the acceptance of autonomous vehicles.

This is how it works: The ship – initially the research catamaran MS Wavelab, later a fjord ferry of the associated partner SFK – automatically recognizes and evaluates current situations during a crossing. To do this, it relies on its on-board systems, including cameras, lidar, radar, sonar, and navigation systems. It also uses the knowledge it has already acquired. Data from the CAPTN projects Fjord Area and 5G, among others, serve as a basis.

All this data is processed in such a way that the ship’s route and course, as well as external factors causing unusual navigational behavior (e.g. a crowded pier, a passing cruise ship, etc.), can be seen on the ferry’s monitors. Captains and others in the control room can also view the data. They can see how the ship is sailing and how it is being navigated. This allows passengers and staff to understand the behavior of the autonomous ship. This creates understanding and acceptance.

Partners

• Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
• Forschungs- und Entwicklungszentrum der Fachhochschule Kiel GmbH (FuE-Zentrum FH Kiel)
• Anschütz GmbH
• Vater GmbH
• HHVISION GmbH & Co. KG
• Hochschule Flensburg
• Schlepp- und Fährgesellschaft Kiel (SFK) (associated partner)
• Landeshauptstadt Kiel (associated partner)

Sponsored by
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action