Schiffstechnik | Ship
Schiffstechnik | Ship Technology Inside view with distance measurements (Stirling Labs) Reality and philosophy of digitalization © Stirling Labs From visions to applications in ship design, construction, operation and inspection: Hans Payer reports on the 18th COMPIT Conference for »Computer and IT Applications in the Maritime Industries« The conference was held this year in Tullamore from March 25 through 27, a small town in the center of Ireland. Tullamore is known worldwide for its splendid Irish Whiskey. Compit has come a long way, and like an excellent whiskey, it has ripened during its 18 years. Today it brings together some of the brightest minds of the shipping world once a year in alternating places. 43 papers were presented in eleven thematic sessions, such as »Zen and the art of computer-aided ship design«, »VR-tigo« or virtual reality, »Seeing eye to eye with AI«, Digital training and Unmanned ships on the horizon. In the past years, exciting visions, digital possibilities and plans for the introduction of new techniques were presented. Several of the presentations in this year’s conference, by contrast, covered developments and introductions of these new techniques in concrete cases. Robert Spencer from Sterling Labs in Perth, Australia, described the future of ship design as a collaboration between partners in Virtual Reality (VR). Since many of the expressions and definitions in the digital world are not standardised, and the developments proceed very fast, it is generally important to well define the topic to be discussed. Spencer used the term Virtual Reality to describe the experience of using a head-mounted computer display (HMD) with a highly accurate 6-degree-of-freedom positional tracking system together with a computer software which imperceptibly updates the user movement. This is done with such fidelity that the user has the illusion he or she is immersed in the virtual reality environment displayed in the HMD. The software uses this capability to present a virtual reality environment with both, a place and plausibility illusion. It causes the sensation of being in a real place and that the scenarios experienced are actually occurring in real time around him. VR in shipbuilding brings the ability for all parties to deeply understand and communicate the design before it is built. This can have a profound effect on how we design and build ships and improves designs and enhances operational efficiency. Communicating 3D Kenneth Goh from Knud E. Hansen showed examples from working in VR and underlined the high accuracy requirements for the 6 DOF tracking system and the software to make VR work. A new user may well be turned away from these capabilities if dizziness or sea-sickness sets in due to lack of accuracy of the system. 48 HANSA International Maritime Journal 06 | 2019
Schiffstechnik | Ship Technology © DEKC Communication partner with head-mounted computer display 3D visualisation of tug environment for the assistance of remote-controlled tug © Fraunhofer CML Hans van der Tas from DEKC, Groningen, talked about communicating Ship design via VR: With the developments in computer technology in the past decade it has become possible to use 3D information in the ship design process. The 3D model of the ship becomes the basis for all information as well as communication. Communicating the ship design between the diverse parties involved, from owner, designer, building yard, equipment suppliers, class etc. plays an important role in the design process. Hans van der Tas described the new way of communicating the ship design by coupling the 3D engineering model to UNITY, a real time 3D video game development platform. Finally his colleague, Nico de Meester from DEKC ,demonstrated how to work and communicate within this new system. The Unity platform proves to be a powerful visualisation tool facilitating communication and co-operation in ship design. Connecting the players together in the same model, the communication is easy and enjoyable: Ship design quasi becomes a video game involving many different players. the tug and its assistance system form the basis for a Tug Assistance System (TAS). TAS has to ensure data transfer and communication with the tug, enable line handling, steering and propulsion control and generally facilitate situational awareness. A prototype of the Situational Awareness System, SAS, is developed using an Oculus Rift as AR device and situational data from a ship handling simulator. Further testing of the prototype in the presence of experienced mariners using the simulation-based test-bed at Fraunhofer CMI will be the next step. The aim, amongst others, is to enhance the safety and the acceptability of remote-controlled tugs. Simulation in ship design VR is one way to arrive at a fairly clear picture of a design quite early in the design process. Tom Goodwin from Altair, UK, argues that simulation driven design is another, particularly for naval ships. It acts to solve problems in the early stages WIR ZEIGEN FLAGGE: INNOVATIVE MARITIME LÖSUNGEN FÜR DIE UMWELT... VR vs. simulation Not all virtual or augmented reality (VR / AR) projects are as encompassing as those by Spencer, Goh, or van der Tas. Britta Schulte and two colleagues from Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services in Hamburg for instance described a project using AR technology for shore-side assistance to remote-controlled tugs. The analysis of requirements from mariners as well as specifications of necessary features of MENSCH UMWELT MASCHINE Abgasreinigungstechnik Rußpartikelfilter SCR DeNOx-Systeme Thermomanagement Schalldämpfer Funkenfänger Fischer Abgastechnik GmbH & Co. KG Spatzenweg 17 48282 Emsdetten Telefon: +49 (0) 25 72 / 960 49-49 Fax: +49 (0) 25 72 / 960 49-50 E-Mail: Internet: info@fischer-at.de www.fischer-at.de HANSA International Maritime Journal 06 | 2019 49
