Researchers at Tallinn University of Technology have developed an autonomous ship, called NYMO, that could be used for parcel delivery, mapping the seabed, conducting rescue operations or detecting pollution. The ship can be steered and managed from land by smartphone.

The research is funded by the Estonian Research Council and EU research programme Archimedes, an effort to increase research take-up by industry. The Tallinn University of Technology is partnered by engineering company Hyrles and MEC Marine Engineering OÜ. The university has focused on power electronics and software, MEC specialises in shipbuilding and Hyrles is involved in mass production of equipment.

The consortium has built a prototype, which is 2.5 metres long and 1.1 metres wide (8.2 x 3.6 ft). The vessel can move from one point to another across the sea with a running range of 100 kilometres (62 miles), it takes up to 100 kilos (220 lbs) of cargo and has a top speed of 13 km/h (eight mph). The ship can monitor both its surroundings and the weather.

The prototype has been built modularly and has a “black suitcase” packed with electronics that can be lifted to another platform if necessary. Software development has accounted for up to 80% of the total development.

Currently, NYMO is described as a small platform which could be used for parcel delivery between smaller islands. Researchers says that it could also be used to map the seabed and conduct rescue operations at sea. It can be used for intelligence activities, as a drone landing platform and as a pollution detector.

According to Tallinn University of Technology researcher Indrek Roasto, the ship could also be part of a micro power grid as it has a smart battery on it. If the ship is in port and has solar panels on it, the batteries are charged and power could be sold directly to the grid. “The ship is like a mobile electricity generator and a battery at the same time. This could work in the Mediterranean countries and in Estonia during the summertime,” said Roasto.

Researchers have found the most complex challenges to involve software. “Here you need to combine both hardware and software skills, so this is a multidisciplinary project. On the table, there are questions about electronics, hydrodynamics, machine-vision, sensors, radio communication etc,” said Tallinn University of Technology Heigo Mõlder.

“We are currently using ultrasonic sensors for precision navigation in the harbour so that the ship does not run into other objects,” said Roasto. “We have also considered using existing modern variants such as LIDAR, or a laser-distance metric, which is often used in cars. The downside of LIDAR is the high price, and it can’t see anything in foggy weather. Static radar can also be used, which can understand what sector some objects are in. We’ll probably put a little radar on it so we can see up to a few hundred metres away and navigate in the harbour and at sea.”

“We are considering installing a camera that uses image processing and object detection,” said Roasto. That’s where the self-learning algorithms come in and a very powerful computer is needed, and that’s more the subject of the future. In addition to ultrasound sensors, it has an AIS or maritime Automatic Identification System, a box that transmits GPS data and receives data from surrounding ships. This information goes to a processor capable of momentarily making decisions about whether it is on a collision course.”

“In the next step, the ship must be able to identify the surroundings, and [after that] it has to be able to plan its own route – these steps still need developing. The experiments have gone relatively well, and I don’t think there have been any serious setbacks. We had to replace some of the controllers, because they got wet. Unfortunately, salty sea water and electronics don’t go well together. We are moving according to a specific work plan and essentially developing software now,” said Mõlder.

“Similar platforms are being developed around the world, but as there are many companies and brands in the car industry, there are also many players in the maritime industry. What sets us apart is that we will be developing this boat in a very certain direction in the future. The overall functionality of a ship can be obtained by making a prototype, but then we focus either on specific sea rescues or, for example, on parcel delivery and then the necessary applications can be further developed in a specific direction,” said Mõlder.