Memorial University of Newfoundland

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to explore the idea of an autonomous fleet of vessels which increase the availability of a channel of interest by pushing ice out of the way. The project involves the hiring of one PhD student. A reinforcement learning strategy for the vessel control algorithm to capture the complex interactions with ice on water is proposed. The model test basins at NRC are proposed to be used to collect data to enhance a simulation for algorithm development that will also be demonstrated with a model test. An existing ice simulation technology developed at NRC-OCRE in combination with model-free reinforcement learning will be used to arrive at a design for the vessel controllers that maint navigability.