Anschütz reports that it has successfully tested its automatic Collision Avoidance System (CAS) in real-world conditions on the Kiel Fjord, as part of the CAPTN autonomous navigation initiative.
The CAS uses a COLREG-compliant algorithm to assess maritime traffic situations using onboard sensors. When a collision risk is identified, the system calculates manoeuvring options and suggests safe trajectories, factoring in depth, sea marks, restricted areas and other navigational constraints.
Testing was carried out over a nine-month period, combining simulator results with live feedback from onboard use. The company says that the system’s assessments aligned with those of navigators, delivering reliable recommendations even in challenging conditions.
“The real-world tests in the unique test field of the Kiel CAPTN initiative have given us the opportunity to combine our research laboratory and simulator findings with practical experience and user feedback over a period of more than nine months,” said Daniel Sommerstedt, Project Manager for autonomous navigation research at Anschütz.
“We have continuously gained new insights, which we have been able to incorporate directly into the optimisation of the algorithm and the simplification of the display.”
The CAS integrates target detection, situation analysis, trajectory planning and motion control using Anschütz’s trackpilot and speedpilot systems. The next phase of development under the CAPTN X-Ferry project will introduce camera data to support object classification and enhance the overall traffic picture. This will allow cross-verification with radar and AIS data for more precise analysis.
The COLREG algorithm was developed as part of the OCUMAR research project with Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
