40 Japanese shipping companies aim to have remote-control vessels ply Japanese waters by 2025, This is the potential result of a project under the auspices of the nonprofit Nippon Foundation.
The project will use satellites and high-speed fifth-generation wireless networks for communication between shore and ship, as well asartificial intelligence to help set efficient routes.
The consortium will be able to handle technical challenges, including the need for cameras and sensors that monitor conditions in place of a human crew.
This technology will undergo a trial run late next year using a mid-size domestic container ship. The ship will be equipped with a system to automatically steer away from potential collisions with other vessels. The project aims to fit all the necessary equipment and systems in a container that can be installed on existing ships.`
The group will provide 3.4 billion yen ($32.5 million) to five proof-of-concept tests during the current fiscal year.
The companies expect to use self-driving vessels mostly to serve tourists and local residents, but also to transport supplies during a natural disaster or other emergency.
