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Innovative technology to reduce fuel consumption of humanitarian ship Open Arms

July 22, 2024. A group of researchers from the Barcelona Nautical Faculty (FNB) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) is developing a new system based on machine learning technologies, one of the techniques of artificial intelligence, with the aim of reducing fuel consumption and improving the energy efficiency of the boats of the NGO Open Arms, focused on rescuing people at sea.

The project, called FNB-Open Arms, is the first case of technology transfer carried out under the umbrella of the Fractus-UPC Deep Tech Hub, a collaborative environment formed by the company Fractus (pioneer in the development of antenna technology) and the UPC to promote innovation and market introduction of deep tech technologies in various fields.

In this case, the Fractus-UPC Deep Tech Hub is contributing to the implementation of the system, which should make the navigation of the Open Arms, an old 37-meter tugboat that can consume up to 3,000 liters of diesel fuel per day, more efficient.

Factors affecting fuel consumption during navigation

The system being developed by the FNB's multidisciplinary team is based on the use of machine learning technologies to determine which factors affect the vessel's fuel consumption and make recommendations to reduce it during navigation.

In the first phase, the ship's fuel consumption, speed, sea state and trimming (the adjustments made to various elements of the ship to gain propulsion and make the most of its driving force) will be monitored. 

With the parameters and consumption recorded, it will be possible to define the machine learning model that will be able to learn, during subsequent missions, how to cover the longest distances with the lowest possible fuel consumption. This is a basic factor for Open Arms, whose vessels travel the seas to spot situations in which it is vital to carry out a maritime rescue.

In a second phase, other factors will be incorporated, such as the state of conservation of the hull, electrical needs or weather conditions. Once these parameters have been processed, the system will determine, in real time, the most optimal propulsion conditions to reduce diesel consumption during the ship's voyages. 

The data are recorded or collected by equipment or sensors already installed on the ship (such as AIS systems, GPS or power plant) or by devices and equipment intended for this project, such as the new flowmeters, financed by Fractus, which will be installed on board the vessel starting in September for use in the following missions.

Thanks to the data that can be collected and processed and the decisions that the system will recommend, not only will fuel use be reduced, but also the environmental impact of the Open Arms, especially in the marine environment. In addition, the savings in fuel and operational costs will allow the organization to invest the savings generated in other actions linked to maritime rescue. 

According to Rubén Bonet, CEO and co-founder of Fractus, “we are proud to be part of this project that not only aims to reduce Open Arms' fuel consumption, but also has a direct impact on its ability to allocate more resources to its vital work of saving lives at sea. We firmly believe that the cornerstone of Deep Tech lies in bringing technological innovation that generates positive changes in our society”. Bonet adds that “collaborating with Open Arms gives us the opportunity to apply our expertise in technology to such a noble humanitarian purpose, demonstrating that technology can be a driver of social and environmental progress.”

Martín Maretta, Open Arms' Technical Director, states that “Thanks to the incorporation of this new technology, we will be able to measure fuel consumption, which allows us to optimize operational efficiency, reducing costs and polluting emissions. It also facilitates compliance with environmental regulations and improves the planning of our maritime routes. This practice also contributes to the early identification of technical problems, prolonging the useful life of the engine”.

The researcher and professor at the Faculty of Nautical Science of Barcelona (FNB) of the UPC, Xavier Martínez Garcia, responsible for this energy optimization project, explains that currently “there is no system on the market based on machine learning technologies that recommends the most optimal navigation of a vessel based on real-time monitoring of the various factors that are involved during navigation”.

Scalable to any vessel

The FNB-Open Arms project is led by Xavier Martínez García, professor of the FNB and researcher of the UPC research group Continuous Media Mechanics and Computational (MC2) of the UPC. Together with him, other outstanding members of the team in this first phase of the research are Clara Borén Altés, Rosa Maria Fernández and Pau Trubat Casal, all three from the FNB, and Alex Ferrer Ferre, professor at the School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering of Terrassa (ESEIAAT) of the same University.

In the following phases of the project, more UPC researchers will be incorporated, specialized in the parameters to be monitored and in determining how they are affecting consumption. The team also has the support of Open Arms' sea and land personnel and experts in navigation, machine learning technologies and real-time sensing.

The project began last January. The forecast is that from September the system will be deployed on the vessel to define the navigation options and proposals. In the following phases, validation tests will be carried out during some missions, improvements will be made and new parameters will be incorporated into the system (as many as deemed necessary), with the hope of replicating the model on other Open Arms NGO vessels in the future.

Distinguished for its social impact

This project received last July the UPC Award for Social Commitment 2023, organized by the Social Council of the University to promote and distinguish research, teaching or knowledge transfer initiatives that may be applicable or have an impact on society. 

Fractus and the UPC promoted, more than a year ago, the Fractus-UPC Deep Tech Hub, an ecosystem dedicated precisely to foster innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship, promoting innovation and transfer to the market or social needs of deep technologies, known as deep tech.