Research on Human-Machine Interaction in Autonomous Ships

Jiangtong Technology

A maritime scene featuring a large white ship docked near an industrial area. The ship has 'H18' marked on its hull and various equipment and life rings visible on its decks. Behind the ship, there is an old warehouse with red doors and a weathered facade, alongside an array of urban buildings of varying architectural styles. Palm trees and patches of greenery are integrated into the urban landscape.

Research

Exploring human-machine interaction in autonomous ship systems and design.

A ship's control room with a wide view of the ocean during sunset. The sunlight floods the room, illuminating various navigation instruments and equipment, including binoculars and communication devices, all set against a reflective surface.

A green and white ship is sailing through calm, dark blue waters. The vessel appears to be equipped with various industrial machinery on its deck, indicating it might be a workboat or a dredger.

A man is leaning on a control panel inside a boat or ship's bridge, looking out of the window. The setting features various navigational instruments and controls, with a focus on levers, buttons, and communication devices. The overall ambiance suggests a maritime environment.

Innovative Research in Human-Machine Interaction

We combine literature review and field research to enhance human-machine interaction in autonomous shipping, addressing industry needs and gaps through expert insights and simulation experiments.

A large cargo ship with the letters HMM on its side is sailing on a wide river. The vessel is loaded with numerous colorful shipping containers. The sky is bright with scattered white clouds, and there's a line of trees in the background along the riverbank.

In the autonomous ship system, the effectiveness, safety, and reliability of human-machine interaction are of great significance for the efficient operation of the ship and the safety of personnel. Therefore, the core research question focuses on: How can we scientifically and comprehensively conduct a systematic evaluation of human-machine interaction in autonomous ship systems to improve their performance and user experience? Specifically, it can be divided into the following sub-questions: First, which key indicators can accurately measure the performance of the human-machine interaction system of autonomous ships? These indicators include the response speed of interaction, the accuracy of information transmission, and the convenience of operation. Second, in the actual operation scenarios of autonomous ships, what impact do different interaction modes (such as voice interaction, touch screen interaction, gesture interaction, etc.) have on the work efficiency and decision-making quality of operators? Third, in the complex and changeable marine environment, how can we optimize the design of human-machine interaction through system evaluation to reduce the risk of human operation errors and ensure the safety of ship navigation? In-depth research on these questions can provide a solid theoretical basis and practical guidance for the design, improvement, and application of human-machine interaction systems of autonomous ships.

A large cargo ship with a black hull and white upper structures is visible with equipment and two crew members on deck. The ship is floating on a calm blue sea, and the sky is clear with no clouds.