EPSRC funds USV collision avoidance system

In recent years, USVs have become popular in applications such as remote sensing, surveillance, coast patrolling and navigation support for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs).

Ideally, USVs need to operate without human intervention, but even with the most advanced navigation, guidance and control systems, the vehicles still require an obstacle detection and avoidance system to be fully autonomous.

‘At the moment, anti-collision systems are lacking in USVs,’ said project leader, Dr Wasif Naeem, ‘It’s standard in aviation, but there is no such thing in marine right now and that’s what we are trying to push forward.’

As part of the two-year project, the team at Queen’s will consider a range of parameters including ship dynamics, environmental conditions and marine collision regulations to develop a vision-based obstacle detection algorithm.

This algorithm will be used alongside a laser range finder and conventional pan-and-tilt mounted camera to detect possible collisions and help determine the best course of action.