Maritime Robotics and Autonomous Systems Operations: Exploring Pathways for Overcoming International Techno-Regulatory Data Barriers

Abstract

The current regulatory landscape that applies to maritime service robotics, aptly termed as robotics and autonomous systems (RAS), is quite complex. When it comes to patents, there are multifarious considerations in relation to vessel survey, inspection, and maintenance processes under national and international law. Adherence is challenging, given that the traditional delivery methods are viewed as unsafe, strenuous, and laborious. Service robotics, namely micro aerial vehicles (MAVs) or drones, magnetic-wheeled crawlers (crawlers), and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), function by relying on the architecture of the Internet of Robotic Things. The aforementioned are being introduced as time-saving apparatuses, accompanied by the promise to acquire concrete and sufficient data for the identification of vessel structural weaknesses with the highest level of accuracy to facilitate decision-making processes upon which temporary and permanent measures are contingent. Nonetheless, a noticeable critical issue associated with RAS effective deployment revolves around non-personal data governance, which comprises the main analytical focus of this research effort. The impetus behind this study stems from the need to enquire whether “data” provisions within the realm of international technological regulatory (techno-regulatory) framework is sufficient, well organized, and harmonized so that there are no current or future conflicts with promulgated theoretical dimensions of data that drive all subject matter-oriented actions. As is noted from the relevant expository research, the challenges are many. Engineering RAS to perfection is not the end-all and be-all. Collateral impediments must be avoided. A safety net needs to be devised to protect non-personal data. The results here indicate that established data decision dimensions call for data security and protection, as well as a consideration of ownership and liability details. An analysis of the state-of-the-art and the comparative results assert that the abovementioned remain neglected in the current international setting. The findings reveal specific data barriers within the existing international framework. The ways forward include strategic actions to remove data barriers towards overall efficacy of maritime RAS operations. The overall findings indicate that an effective transition to RAS operations requires optimizing the international regulatory framework for opening the pathways for effective RAS operations. Conclusions were drawn based on the premise that policy reform is inevitable in order to push the RAS agenda forward before the emanation of 6G and the era of the Internet of Everything, with harmonization and further standardization being very high priority issues.

Human-Autonomy Teaming in Ship Inspection: Psychological Perspectives on the Collaboration Between Humans and Self-Governing Systems

“…Therefore, an extensive interview series was conducted to reflect on the potential needs, opportunities, and challenges of HAT in ship inspection and their consequences for end-user acceptance. Relevant maritime stakeholders (Johansson et al, 2021;Pastra et al, 2022) participated in the interview series (e.g., shipyards, service suppliers, shipowners, and ship inspectors). In line with theoretical models of technology acceptance (Venkatesh et al, 2016) that have been successfully applied to the context of HAT (e.g., Bröhl et al, 2019) and models of human-centered system design (Karltun et al, 2017), the results from 23 expert interviews point to multiple critical factors of HAT that holistically touch the human element, technological systems involved, and organizational context of maritime inspection and maintenance (see Fig.…”

Towards an International Guideline for RIT End-Users: Spearing Through Vessel Inspection and Hull Cleaning Techno-Regulatory Elements

“…Data governance has been conceptualized by the Data Management Association (DAMA) as "the allocation of authority and control and shared decision making over the management of data assets" (Earley et al, 2017). By way of explanation, data governance is related to decisions in regards to the allocation of responsibilities, access, control, and use of data, as opposed to data management, which is primarily linked to data collection and protection, as well as the implementation of governance-related decisions (Johansson et al, 2021). Johansson et al (2021) underscore that data quality, data ownership, preservation entity, security measures, sharing, data lifecycle, copyright, and data liability are the terms that should be included in the contractform that is executed by ship owners, classification societies and service suppliers (Fig.…”

The port of Gothenburg under the influence of the fourth stage of the industrial revolution: Implementing a wide portfolio of digital tools to optimize the conduct of operations

“…It is further observed that each individual definition of data can be characterized as being "discipline oriented". Whether in natural science, economy, or law, scholars have put forth respective definitions from the prism, and to this extent, the term data has interacted with the subject matter of respective disciplines (Johansson et al, 2021;Zins, 2021). The quintessential definition of data, however, is found in the common lexicon, i.e., Cambridge English Dictionary (CED) (Cambridge English Dictionary, 2021): "information, especially facts or numbers, collected to be examined and considered and used to help decisionmaking, or information in an electronic form that can be stored and used by a computer".…”

“…The role of ports in global trade is essential, handling around 80 % of goods transferred all over the world, with rising demands on operational efficiency and productivity and, at the same time, sustainable development, to contribute to the goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The challenge of conciliating these increasing demands is expected to rise in the years to come, given the predicted growth of container handling globally, and the diversified nature of global trade, with larger vessels and quicker transfers of goods along the supply chain (Johansson et al, 2021). A solution to these challenges can be provided by leveraging the benefits of digitalization in ports and the integration of innovative (digital) technologies.…”

“…Indicative examples in this category include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data (Analytics), Cloud Computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT), as well as Blockchain architecture to facilitate transactions (Dalaklis et al, 2020). Furthermore, under the term "autonomous vehicles and robotics" (hereafter, robotics), we refer to the use of a wide portfolio of advanced technology applications, not only within shipyards and ports, but also at sea or inland waterways, to serve very "niche" transport service needs (Johansson et al, 2021). On the other hand, although the port and shipping industries are often regarded as conservative and "resistant to change", many proactive and progressing ports around the world are already using certain very innovative technologies with very clear economic, operational, and environmental benefits and should, therefore, already be characterized as smart ports.…”