Researchers Fredrik Ljungberg, Jonas Linder, Martin Enqvist, and Kalevi Tervo have made significant strides in the field of marine vessel modeling and experiment design. Affiliated with the Division of Systems and Control at Uppsala University, their work focuses on optimizing the way experiments are designed to extract the most informative data for modeling marine vessels. This research is particularly relevant for improving the accuracy and efficiency of marine vessel motion models, which are crucial for navigation, control, and safety.
The team’s approach centers around a dictionary-based method, which systematically selects the most informative combination of independent experiments from a predefined set of candidates. This method is tailored to an instrumental variable (IV) estimator with zero-mean instruments, a tool well-suited for parameter estimation in second-order modulus models. These models are commonly used to describe the motion of marine vessels, making this research highly practical for real-world applications.
The researchers evaluated their method using both simulated and real data. Real-world data was collected from a small model ship as well as from a full-scale vessel, ensuring that the findings are robust and applicable across different scales of marine vessels. This dual approach of using both simulated and real data provides a comprehensive validation of the method’s effectiveness.
In addition to the experimental design, the team modified a standard motion-planning problem to account for the prior selection of information-optimal sub-experiments. This modification allows for the creation of a feasible trajectory for the entire experiment, ensuring that the data collected is both informative and logistically feasible. This integration of experiment design and motion planning represents a significant advancement in the field, as it provides a more holistic approach to marine vessel modeling.
The practical applications of this research are vast. By optimizing the experiment design process, marine engineers and researchers can more accurately model the motion of vessels, leading to improved navigation systems, better safety protocols, and more efficient vessel operation. This research not only advances the scientific understanding of marine vessel dynamics but also offers tangible benefits for the maritime industry. Read the original research paper here.