New collaboration advances autonomous maritime navigation

We have successfully partnered with ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK (AEUK) to advance autonomous maritime navigation by utilising our proprietary Synthetic Environment Assurance Service (SEAS) testbed. This collaboration rigorously assessed AEUK’s cutting-edge autonomous navigation system, ARCIMS, delivering critical insights into its decision-making capabilities and compliance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs).

ARCIMS, a leading-edge maritime platform designed for modularity and adaptability, offers advanced capabilities for autonomous mine warfare and unmanned vessel operations. Leveraging its proprietary SEAS testbed, BMT evaluated the ARCIMS system’s ability to operate safely and effectively in complex and dynamic maritime environments.

The ARCIMS unmanned surface vessel (USV) in operational mode, demonstrating its advanced autonomous capabilities in dynamic maritime environments. As part of a collaborative innovation effort between BMT and ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK, this UK Ministry of Defence (MOD)-owned platform has been rigorously tested using BMT’s SEAS testbed to validate safe and effective autonomous navigation.

Image credit: ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK

BMT’s SEAS testbed enabled the testing of AEUK’s system in detailed synthetic maritime environments, replicating complex operational scenarios under controlled, repeatable conditions. By providing robust assurance through this innovative approach, we have supported the system’s readiness for certification and deployment, advancing the safe integration of autonomous systems in real-world maritime operations.

This collaboration addressed a pivotal challenge in maritime autonomy - ensuring that the autonomous navigation system meets the stringent requirements of COLREGs compliance. Using our SEAS platform, AEUK’s system was tested in a wide array of high-pressure scenarios designed to stress-test its algorithms and reveal actionable insights for refinement.

“BMT’s partnership with ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK underscores the importance of simulation-based assurance in developing safe, reliable autonomous systems,” said Will Alexander, Campaign Lead for Maritime Autonomous Systems at BMT and a master mariner and hydrographic surveyor.

“Building trust in AI decision-making is equally vital. Trustworthy AI must be embedded into the foundation of autonomous systems, and this project exemplifies how that principle is part of the very DNA of our SEAS testbed, ensuring systems are not only compliant but also capable of making informed, seamanlike decisions in dynamic maritime environments.”

A high-fidelity simulation of ARCIMS undergoing evaluation within BMT REMBRANDT, our high fidelity maritime simulator, a flagship solution for autonomous system validation. Leveraging its SEAS testbed, we have enabled comprehensive COLREGs compliance testing and scenario-based assessment, supporting the UK MOD’s regulatory compliance-framework for autonomous maritime systems.

Our work in this collaboration also highlights its role in supporting the progress of maritime autonomous systems (MAS) compliance. We provide technical input into the UK’s Defence Maritime Regulator (DMR) guidelines and tools, maintaining positions on influential groups such as the Society of Maritime Industries Autonomy Council and the Maritime Autonomous Systems Regulatory Working Group. This commitment reinforces our influence in shaping the future of autonomous maritime safety and standards.

The SEAS testbed project delivered vital optimisation and value to AEUK, the UK Naval Authority Technical Group (NATG), and the broader maritime community. By using advanced simulation capabilities, we reduced the costs and risks associated with live testing and provided essential evidence for the system’s certification. The testing defined safe operational envelopes and identified areas for algorithmic refinement, ensuring confidence in the system’s deployment.

ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK’s Principal Software Engineer for Command, Control, and Autonomy Systems, Ian Renton, reflected on the collaboration:

“In my view, this type of exercise is an invaluable addition to our existing test procedures. Working with specialist navigators and running scenarios specifically tailored to catch COLREGs ‘edge’ cases allowed us to identify areas for improvement in future algorithm versions. I was pleased to hear it said several times that our vessel was making safe decisions and, in some cases, clever solutions, while maintaining COLREGs compliance and safe standoff from other vessels.”

Another perspective from BMT REMBRANDT, our high fidelity maritime simulator, where the ARCIMS system was tested in varied operational conditions to assess its navigation performance and safety compliance. The combination of BMT’s SEAS testbed and its longstanding expertise in maritime simulation has contributed to advancing the safe and assured deployment of autonomous maritime platforms.

Stephen Perry, from the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) Naval Authority and Technology Group (NATG) – Propulsion, Manoeuvring & Navigation Systems, then concluded:

“Establishing the MASS SEAS assurance methodology has enabled the Naval Authority (NA), as the safety certifying body for MOD shipping, to delegate the assessment of the COLREG capability of innovate new platforms using cutting edge technology to a Recognised Organisation (RO). The RO provides an independent third-party report, compiled using an approved syllabus of tailored tests conducted in a Type-Approved high-fidelity synthetic environment, which enables the NA to define a safe operating envelope and certification for the MASS. MASS SEAS is one of the tools enabling the UK MOD to establish one of the world’s first frameworks for the certification of marine autonomy.”

BMT’s influence in maritime autonomy

Accelerating the safe introduction of MAS is a critical priority for the defence sector, and we are at the forefront of this transformation. With expertise in simulation, maritime engineering, and significant contributions to UK defence regulation and MAS compliance, BMT continues to be a trusted partner in advancing autonomous systems. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, regulatory insights, and decades of maritime expertise, we ensure that MAS are developed and deployed with safety, efficiency, and the trust of operators and stakeholders at their core.

This partnership builds on our legacy of innovation, exemplified by its globally recognised BMT REMBRANDT technology, which has set new benchmarks for navigation risk assessment and immersive simulation. Through this bilateral and unique combination of innovation and operational excellence, we remain a driving force in shaping the future of maritime autonomy.

Find out more about our role in advancing maritime autonomy.

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