Trustworthiness and Sandbox Environments for Autonomous Ship Navigation

The following paper details the creation of a sandbox environment designed to test and validate autonomous ship navigation using virtual reality simulators. While land transport has successfully implemented autonomous systems, the maritime industry still struggles to move beyond basic autopilot functions toward true artificial intelligence. To bridge this gap, the authors propose a Digital Navigator concept that utilizes machine learning to replicate human decision-making and vision. This research emphasizes the importance of establishing AI trustworthiness through rigorous simulated trials that mimic high-risk, safety-critical encounters without endangering actual vessels or crews. By integrating these simulations with Remote Operation Centers, the framework aims to refine human-AI collaboration and develop reliable communication strategies for future shipping. The ultimate goal is to ensure that autonomous vessels can navigate complex, multi-vessel environments and harsh weather conditions with high levels of operational integrity.

The AI-created content is based on the following conference paper: L.P. Perera, Development of a Sandbox Environment for evaluating Safety-Critical Autonomous Ship Navigation towards Future Vessels, In Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Maritime Technology and Engineering (MARTECH2026), Lisbon, Portugal. URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publicat...