Methods for Testing COLREGS Compliance in AutonomousSurface Vehicles

Abstract

Globally there is an increasing number of uncrewed and autonomous surface vessels operating at sea. Preventing collisions at sea is of paramount importance to safeguard lives, protect the marine environment, and maintain smooth maritime operations. Effectively preventing collisions at sea between manned and uncrewed vessels requires that uncrewed vessels maneuver in a manner that is both safe and predictable to human mariners. Consequently, there is a pressing need to develop a comprehensive testing architecture that rigorously evaluates and verifies the level of International Rules for Preventing Collision at Sea, or "Collision Regulations" (COLREGS) compliance of autonomous marine vehicles. To address the critical need for COLREGS compliance verification in Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV), this thesis introduces test cases. These test cases are designed to assess the ability of autonomous vessels to respond appropriately to various navigational scenarios and interactions with conventional, manned vessels. The development of test cases draws upon historical collision data, navigational incidents, and expert knowledge to encompass a wide range of real-world situations and with simplicity of real-world implementation in mind.