Rachael O'Connor on Cutting-Edge Radar Technologies for Autonomous Shipping

?? Today MASSworld.news ??The Guide to Autonomous Ships CEO Rhea Cabral talks to Rachael O'Connor , Marine Business Development Manager at Navtech Radar .

Rachael O'Connor is the Marine Business Development Manager in the industrial automation sector of Navtech Radar , a company that develops high-resolution, radar products for various industries including mining, marine, logistics, rail and robotics.?

Rachael has been the driving force behind Navtech's marine segment. She recognises the challenges the industry faces as it moves towards integrating the enhancements offered by smart shipping for an optimised, safe-vessel operation. With a strong entrepreneurial background, and the confidence to enter into unchartered waters, Rachael is inspiring the industry to use new technology in solving performance challenges by utilising all the benefits of W-band Radar.?

Fully focused on supporting the marine industry, Rachael is building partnerships with leading maritime technology providers as they adopt high-resolution radar to enhance safety and efficiency. She is committed to advancing marine autonomy,?driving the radar's marine compliance with IEC60945 and prototyping extended range modes, thus bridging the gap that Lidar is struggling to fill.

?At the Autonomous Ship Expo Conference you presented Navtech's radar as an ideal solution for marine autonomy. Could you please provide us some information about this radar?

??We were very excited to be introducing?our Robust Automation Sensor,?RAS6, the latest high-resolution Navtech?Radar optimised for marine autonomy. The RAS6 uses millimetre-wave FMCW 76-77GHz (W-band) radar technology, providing superior?higher resolution detection compared to?traditional navigation radars which operate at 9.6GHz (X-band). The RAS6 is?more comparable to lidar, capable of?detecting small targets like buoys and kayaks with the added benefit of radar technology being more resilient to harsh weather conditions.?

??With a 4Hz refresh rate, 1000m detection range, and centimeter-level resolution Navtech’s?sensor is the perfect complement to a perception system, with options to fuse with vision. The RAS6 fills the blind spots that often plague X-band radars, providing unmatched detection for short-range, fast moving targets in congested waters.

?Is the radar a substitute for the navigational type or is it to be used in addition?

??We believe our 77GHz radars actually complement a navigation radar. Traditional X-band marine radars have limitations such as low resolution and significant blind spots but they have awesome range. The RAS6 complements these systems by filling in the gap with high-resolution imaging, especially for short-range small target detection in congested waterways, making it an essential addition for autonomous vessels.

?What are the advantages of the Radar and its most important specifications?

??Radar technology stands out as the pinnacle choice for industries requiring sensors with high availability, robustness, and wide operating domain suitability, such as defence, aviation and marine sectors. Unlike some competing sensor technologies, radar offers unmatched resilience, proven over decades in mission-critical scenarios and all-weather conditions. What sets our radar apart is its high resolution and rapid update rate, outclassing traditional X-band radars, offering cm-level performance. Moreover, radar's design eliminates the need for lenses, mitigating maintenance burdens as no cleaning is required.

?Radar for autonomy requires fusion with other data sources onboard. Does your radar provide the API for developers?

??Our radar sensors offer seamless integration, empowering developers with a comprehensive SDK that grants access to raw data as the primary messaging format. This flexibility enables developers to harness the full potential of our hardware according to their specific needs. Additionally, our SDK includes examples to facilitate the integration process with example target detection approaches. With ROS and ROS2 drivers available for our radars, the sensors can easily be integrated in an exciting stack. Moreover, our radar support ASTERIX CAT240, meaning they are compatible with a wide range of marine tracking software. For instance, our collaboration with Cambridge Pixel renowned for their world-class tracking system.

?What else can Navtech Radar offer to marine autonomy?

??Navtech's radar supports both on-vessel and static shoreline installations, enhancing situational awareness for Vessel Traffic Systems (VTS) through high-resolution imaging. Our proven technology, minimal maintenance requirements, and robust performance in challenging conditions make Navtech radar an indispensable tool for advancing marine autonomy situational awareness. It ensures autonomous vessels can operate safely and efficiently, even in complex and congested marine environments.

?What are your thoughts on the future of marine autonomy?

??The future of marine autonomy is certainly promising, with advanced radar technology playing a pivotal role. It is fantastic to see such a broad range of vessels from hydrofoiling passenger ferries, to police search and rescue and autonomous fire fighting vessels adopting the latest sensor technologies to enhance safety and efficiency within the industry. I am looking forward to continuing to grow our technology partnerships with maritime specialists across the globe to see what we can achieve together.?

?As I’m sure some of our readers would like to meet with and possibly see the radar in action, which other events will you be participating in this year (2024)?

??Navtech will be participating in several key events throughout 2024, showcasing our RAS6 radar and its capabilities for autonomous and remotely operated vessels. Notably, we will be partnering with Tritek Power & Automation for the ADIPEC Exhibition and Conference event in Abu Dhabi. Here are some additional events we will attend:

??SMM Hamburg Expo -?Hamburg (3rd-6th September)

??ICMASS - Norway (29th- 30th?October)

??We would love to meet you at any of the above events, however if you are unable to attend, our Marine Applications Engineers can set up a live demonstration onboard your own vessel or you are welcome to visit us in Oxford, UK where all of our radars are designed and manufactured by our skilled team of engineers.?