Safeguarding critical infrastructures, production systems, risk management, and robust monitoring and communication in vast and remote ocean areas are more important than ever. The sabotage of the North Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea demonstrated the vulnerability of critical infrastructures in the ocean, the negative consequences for the energy supply and, hence, for Europe´s economy. To mitigate such risks, this project will develop technology solutions for intelligent autonomous systems and robotic organizations in persistent long-range safeguarding operations, realizing a patrolling surveillance system for the critical ocean infrastructures. Find more information on the project website.

In the ORCAS project novel technological solutions for online risk management and risk control of autonomous ships will be developed. Cutting-edge interdisciplinary research combining cybernetics and risk management aims to achieve high level of autonomy, intelligence and decision-making capabilities for autonomous ships. The goal is to enhance the realization of autonomous ships by developing safer and smarter automatic sailing systems and power and propulsion systems that are able to detect, perceive, verify, monitor, control and follow-up deviations and potential hazards. Find more information on the project website.

The UNLOCK project addresses research challenges related to risk acceptance and supervisory risk control of autonomous systems and operations. The aim is to develop more powerful risk control solutions to achieve safe system performances and allow for widespread use of autonomous systems. The outcomes of this ambitious project will support and enhance the achievement of higher-level autonomy and intelligence in advanced control systems through the integration of online risk modelling, testing and verification of safe responses of the control system. Find more information on the project website.

The objectives of online risk modelling are to provide a real-time risk picture, give early warnings of deviations in the system, improve decision-support for dynamic positioning (DP) system operators, and improve HMI in DP operator stations in order to improve response to abnormal scenarios. Find more information on the project website.

This project researches and develops novel concepts for autonomous operations and technology to improve safety and efficiency in aquaculture. In particular, the project will address daily operations and inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR) for exposed locations, but the project results will also be applicable to more sheltered fish production. Moreover, the project will assess, utilize and possibly adapt technology developed for subsea IMR in the oil and gas industry. Advances in sensor technology, robotics, ICT, and localization methods create new opportunities for reducing operators' manual workload and exposure time on the facilities at sea, for preventing fish escape, and for improving safety and operational efficiency. Find more information on the project website.

The group is/has been involved in other projects as research scientists and work package leaders:

• SFI Autoship

• Knowledge and technology for robust, safe and efficient fish farming at exposed locations (SFI Exposed)

• NTNU Autoferry

• NTNU Oceans Pilot on Arctic marine environment