CAPTN X-Ferry aims to increase acceptance of autonomous ferries

• CAPTN X-Ferry: Self-explanatory behavior of an autonomous ferry
• Interdisciplinary project with six partners aims to increase acceptance
• Focus lies on autonomous solutions for the local transport sector
• Project started retroactively on September 1st and will run for 36 months
• Kiel University acts as consortium leader
• Funded by the Maritime Research Program of the BMWK

Kiel, October 17, 2024 – Understanding creates acceptance. This is the hypothesis behind the launch of the new CAPTN project X-Ferry. Its goal is to research a groundwork technology that will enable autonomous ships to independently analyze and explain its maneuvers. Regional universities and companies from the fields of nautical system development, artificial intelligence (AI) and mixed reality are involved in the interdisciplinary project. The project volume amounts to 4.5 million Euros; X-Ferry is funded by the Maritime Research Program of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK).

With the recently launched X-Ferry research project, the CAPTN initiative is taking a further step towards realizing its idea of developing a mobility chain consisting of self-driving, safe and clean means of transportation. Following the Förde Areal, Förde 5G and Flex projects, which are developing the basis for autonomous shipping in Kiel, the focus is now on explaining the technical processes and communicating with users. Initially, the focus will remain on shipping. The goal is to research systems that increase the acceptance of autonomous transportation.

“With CAPTN X-Ferry, we are taking a big step towards highly automated or autonomous driving in shipping. We are trying to find out which situations are perceived by passengers and crew as requiring explanation and how the ship can recognize and explain these independently,” explains Prof. Dr. Sven Tomforde from the Intelligent Systems working group at Kiel University. “The first step is to increase understanding, and the second step is to increase willingness to use transportation.” Tomforde heads the research consortium, which consists of six partners in total. In addition to the three computer science working groups Intelligent Systems, Distributed Systems, and Reliable Systems at Kiel University, the team includes the FuE-Zentrum FH Kiel, Anschütz GmbH, Vater GmbH, HHVision GmbH & Co KG, and Flensburg University of Applied Sciences. The latter will focus primarily on operating concepts and passenger acceptance.

Based on the sensors on board, such as cameras, lidar, radar and sonar, as well as the knowledge gained so far, the autonomous ferry independently recognizes and evaluates the current situation. The starting point is the existing data and concepts from the CAPTN projects Förde Areal and 5G. The electric catamaran MS “Wavelab” from the CAPTN initiative will serve as a research platform. The developed methods and systems will then be demonstrated on conventional vessels of the associated partner Schlepp- und Fährgesellschaft Kiel (SFK).

The recorded environmental data is processed for visualization. Passengers can follow the automatically executed maneuvers and the corresponding automatically generated explanations via central monitors on the ferry. In the future, captains and helmsmen in the control room will be able to use smart devices to monitor the ship’s navigation and driving behavior and thus ensure safe operation.

“For us at Kiel University, this project is an important contribution to the expansion of our research competence in the field of autonomous, intelligent systems,” emphasizes Prof. Eckhard Quandt, Vice President for Research, Scientific Infrastructure and Transfer. “The most important point from Kiel University’s point of view is the expected multiplier effect: the knowledge gained should form the basis for acquiring further funding and expertise not only in the field of autonomous shipping, but also in the field of application-oriented machine learning, behavior prediction and the safeguarding of autonomous modes of transport.”

There are several similar initiatives around the world dealing with autonomous shipping, including highly automated passenger ferries. However, the acceptance of passengers and operators has not yet been considered. “CAPTN X-Ferry puts people at the center – a central point in the use of autonomous public transport. The results of the project therefore have an impact beyond Kiel and the region,” emphasizes Daniel Sommerstedt. The results can be transferred to other ship types and scenarios. In a first step, the project will design an exemplary transfer using data from a container ship, explains the engineer for autonomous navigation systems at Anschütz. Other possible product developments include innovative visualization and immersion environments as well as modules for future interactive control centers for (partially) autonomous ships.

Autonomous navigation is also seen as an opportunity in the shipping industry. On the one hand, ferry and shipping companies can use it to counteract the dwindling number of nautical personnel. On the other hand, accidents could be reduced. A study published in 2021 in the Journals of Shipping and Trade found that 85% of shipping accidents are due to human error.

The researchers also hope that the results can be applied to other highly automated mobility concepts. For example, similar approaches to user-centric self-declaration could be implemented for autonomous trains and trams, cars and buses, providing the basis for the networked approach to the mobility chain envisioned by the CAPTN initiative.

Kiel University received 1.28 million euros in funding for the X-Ferry project from the Maritime Research Program of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK). The project has a total volume of 4.5 million euros.