In the ever-evolving world of maritime traffic, keeping vessels safe and efficient is a bit like conducting a symphony—every instrument, or in this case, every vessel, needs to play its part in harmony. But with the rise of autonomous ships joining conventional vessels, the orchestra is getting more complex. Enter Luka Grgicevic, a researcher from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Ålesund, who’s been working on a novel way to keep the maritime traffic symphony in tune.
Grgicevic, who hails from the Department of Information and Communication Technology and Natural Sciences, has been tinkering with something called a “polymatrix game.” Now, don’t let the fancy name fool you. In simple terms, it’s a way to model how different vessels, both autonomous and conventional, can make decisions that benefit the whole fleet, not just the individual ship. It’s like teaching each vessel to consider the bigger picture, rather than just looking out for itself.
The idea is to create a centralised decision support system, a sort of traffic cop in the sky, if you will. This system would help vessels avoid collisions and grounding, all while keeping things running smoothly and efficiently. Grgicevic explains it like this: “We achieve collision and grounding avoidance of non-cooperative agents.” In other words, even if some vessels aren’t playing nice, the system can still keep everyone safe.
So, how does it work? Well, imagine a big graph, with each vessel as a point, or vertex. Each connection between these points is a game, where the vessels decide on the best speed and heading to avoid collisions and stay efficient. The system then updates these decisions in real-time, using something called the replicator revision protocol. It’s like a constant feedback loop, always adjusting to keep the traffic flowing smoothly.
Now, you might be wondering, what’s in it for the maritime industry? Well, plenty. For starters, this system could make vessel traffic services (VTS) more efficient. It could also pave the way for safer, more reliable autonomous shipping. And let’s not forget the potential cost savings—fewer collisions mean less damage, less downtime, and ultimately, more money in the pockets of shipowners.
Grgicevic and his team have already put their system to the test. They created a simulator with three vessels and 49 strategies each. The result? Safe and efficient passage, guided by the system’s advice. It’s a promising start, and Grgicevic’s work has been published in the IEEE Access journal, a testament to its potential.
But Grgicevic isn’t stopping there. He’s already looking ahead, considering how this system could be scaled up for real-world use. It’s an exciting time for maritime traffic management, and Grgicevic is right at the helm, steering us towards a safer, more efficient future. So, buckle up, maritime professionals. The future of vessel traffic services is looking bright, and it’s all thanks to a polymatrix game.