Problem Description

As freight autonomy technology advances, the demand for intelligent and integrated systems is increasing. The main transport mode for global trade is ocean shipping with about 90% of traded goods carried by container ships. It take roughly 25 to 50 crew members (depending on the size of the vessel) to operate a container ship in order to make sure all systems are functioning properly and to make any necessary adjustments during the voyage.

The requirements needed to successfully operate a large cargo ship poses a big opportunity for robotics. Having an unmanned vehicle be able to maneuver around a ship to check and adjust operating systems would be a very valuable resource and would help smaller crews effectively operate larger ships.

This project aims to address this challenge by providing a mobile robot that can activate switches, turn valves, and flip circuit breakers. The robot will be able to accept mission files, navigate autonomously, and perform tasks regardless of any physical disturbances from large waves or storms.