Our work focuses on three main areas: Cleaner, Safer, and Smarter.
Cleaner
We are dedicated to decarbonisation and exploring future fuels. We also work on improving ship efficiency, energy harvesting, and maritime energy solutions. Our work encompasses several innovative areas:
- we explore alternative propulsion sources such as Wind-Assist Propulsion Systems and fuel cells
- we also focus on future fuels, including hydrogen and LH2 vessel design
- digitalisation and efficiency savings are key aspects of our efforts including Air Lubrication Systems (ALS)
- we address maritime energy capture from tidal, wave, and motion-induced sources
- we specialize in computational fluid dynamics to enhance our understanding and optimization of fluid behavior in maritime contexts
Safer
We prioritize the performance of ship structures and materials, ensuring they are reliable and safe. Additionally, we consider human factors to enhance safety in maritime operations:
- our work in lightweight materials focuses on ensuring the reliability of composites used in maritime applications
- we aim for the optimum design of composite laminates and study fluid-structure interactions, including passive adaptive composites
- we also enhance structural integrity and test the safety and integrity of materials for future fuels
- we utilize 'Digital Twin' technology to create virtual models of physical systems
- human factors are a key consideration in our work, emphasizing human-centered design and addressing issues such as vibrations
Smarter
Our expertise includes maritime robotics, control, and autonomy, as well as the application of machine learning, AI, and optimization techniques to advance maritime technology:
- our work encompasses the design, performance, and operation of autonomous vehicles, including both surface and sub-surface systems
- we focus on mission management and planning, and collaborate with organizations such as NOCS, the University of Tokyo, and Sonardyne
- we also apply machine-learning and AI to various areas, including: ship efficiency through routing and draught/trim optimization, composite structures and design optimization, underwater camera and sensor image processing, physics-based fluid mechanics simulations, and layout optimization for superyachts
- our collaborations extend to ATI and the fields of electronics and computer science
Maritime robotics
Our scaling capabilities in the field are extensive:
- we utilize Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for intelligent visual mapping and inspection, focusing on energy recovery and persistent operations
- we also manage missions and coordinate collective actions, leveraging soft-robotics for efficient propulsion
- additionally, we are involved in the development of gliders as part of the EU BRIDGES H2020 project
- we work closely with over 16 government and industry partners, including Sonardyne and National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS)
- our efforts are supported by cross-faculty collaboration through the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI), Autonomous Systems USRG, and In situ and Remote Intelligent Sensing (IRIS)
- we have 150 square meters of dedicated space for development and testing