Revolutionizing Maritime Navigation: The Role of Silicon Sensing in the Mayflower Autonomous Ship

Silicon Sensing has announced the successful integration of its AMU30 inertial measurement units (IMUs) into the Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS),which is scheduled too embark on a three-week trans-Atlantic expedition in April 2022. These advanced inertial sensors provide the new AI captain with precise motion data and contribute to the measurement of sea surface height, aiding in comprehensive scientific studies of ocean topography.

Advanced Technology Behind the AMU30

The AMU30 represents a cutting-edge micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor,boasting remarkable inertial performance characterized by outstanding bias stability and minimal noise. it features an embedded Kalman Filter-based attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) algorithm, delivering accurate 3-axis outputs for angular rate and acceleration, and also roll, pitch, heading angles, altitude, pressure, and temperature at a frequency of 200Hz.These metrics are essential for precise navigation at sea.

A Journey of Historical Meaning

The MAS’s voyage across the Atlantic commemorates the original Mayflower’s journey over four centuries ago. This expedition is part of a broader scientific initiative aimed at gathering extensive data and conducting research over the coming years.The ship is steered by its AI Captain, developed using IBM’s cloud, artificial intelligence, and edge computing technologies, and operates on a hybrid engine powered by solar energy. Collaborating with scientists and other autonomous vessels, it serves as a versatile platform for enhancing our understanding of critical issues such as climate change, oceanic plastic pollution, and the conservation of marine mammals. Additionally, the evolution of marine autonomous systems like the MAS is poised to revolutionize various ocean-related sectors, including shipping, oil and gas, telecommunications, security, defense, fishing, and aquaculture.

Expert Insights on the AMU30’s Performance

Brett Phaneuf, co-director of the MAS project, remarked, “The AMU30s have proven to be incredibly reliable, even in the moast challenging environments, and are crucial to the Mayflower Autonomous Ship’s mission of collecting high-resolution data from the oceans.”

“The two AMU30 units facilitate real-time, precise measurements of the ship’s movement across six degrees of freedom (DOF), enabling the AI Captain to make fine adjustments for optimal vessel performance in complex wave conditions, while also providing a redundant navigation capability at sea.”

“Moreover, when integrated with optical and real-time kinematics (RTK) GPS data, the AMU30 enhances the ship’s ability to make highly accurate measurements of sea surface height. Such precise measurements are vital for understanding ocean tides, circulation patterns, and the thermal capacity of the ocean.”

Commitment to Oceanic Research

Steve Capers, General Manager of Silicon Sensing Systems, expressed pride in the project, stating, “This is an extraordinary initiative, and we are honored that our compact, robust IMUs are integral to both the control of the vessel and the collection of data that will expand our knowledge of the oceans.”