Robosys Automation and AMC Search sign a three-year partnering agreement to drive pioneering MASS training worldwide

Robosys Automation, AI maritime autonomy and smartshipping specialist, and the Australian Maritime College’s AMC Search, have officially announced a three-year partnering agreement to enhance MASS certified training, to drive pioneering remote operator training on a worldwide scale.

The announcement was made at the inaugural International Conference on Maritime Autonomy and Remote Navigation (ICMAR Nav) conference held 27-30 Nov 2023 at the University of Tasmania’s Australian Maritime College, AMC Search, Launceston, Australia.

Through extensive maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS) trials spanning crewed and uncrewed scenarios, UK headquartered Robosys Automation and Australia’s AMC Search have worked together to support mariners with the latest technology, training and procedures for combined human and AI operations.

At Ocean Business 2023, Nick Bonser of AMC Search, together with Nigel Lee of Robosys, presented a joint session regarding these MASS trials, entitled ‘Understanding Human and AI Collaboration for future shipping’. The trials featured Robosys’ revolutionary AI-driven maritime autonomy software suite, VOYAGER AI, which enables ‘traditional’ crewed vessels and USVs to become fully remote controllable from a mothership or shoreside, with added features such as collision avoidance and decision aids.

The MASS trials were undertaken from AMC Search’s cutting-edge Maritime Simulation Center, located in Launceston in Tasmania, with scenarios conducted in isolation, and as a mixed human-machine environment, spanning numerous challenging and varied shipping situations.

The International Conference on Maritime Autonomy & Remote Navigation’s (ICMAR NAV) theme was ‘Driving Forward Autonomy in the Maritime Industry’. Hosted by AMC Search, the event showcased the latest advances in autonomous navigation technology, round table meetings, and conference sessions delivered by industry experts.

In ICMAR NAV’s Autonomous Navigation Systems session, Nigel Lee discussed ‘Developing a COLREGs Compliant Collision Avoidance System’. This highlighted how Robosys and AMC Search conducted numerous projects observing how humans and machines react in accordance with the IMO Convention on International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS). Nigel Lee’s session concluded with highlighting the importance of using simulations when developing the skills required to operate MASS vessels, through demonstrating a direct comparison of how humans and AI react in the same situation.

AMC Search selected Robosys’ VOYAGER AI software for the delivery of its training programs because it provides simple, flexible mission and user-defined operational settings for both manned and unmanned systems.

AMC Search’s Simulation & Autonomous Maritime Instructor, Nick Bonser, commented: “We are delighted to have partnered with Robosys Automation because of their deep expertise in this area. They are dynamic and agile, with the ability to support our cutting-edge simulator operations and MASS operator training syllabus, along with delivering Collision Avoidance Decision Aid (CADA) capability for our students.”

Robosys’ CSO, Nigel Lee, commented: “The team at Robosys looks forward to building upon this mutually beneficial long-term partnership with AMC Search, where we can jointly improve the safety and efficiency of sustainable and smart future maritime operations.”