Addressing small vessel operation issues through AI

There are said to be approximately 310,000 small vessels in Japan,1 which together account for the majority of marine vessels operating in the country. Small vessels are often used for public transportation and logistics purposes by residents of remote islands, but there are many regions where aging populations have led to an urgent shortage of licensed boat operators.

Operating small vessels requires constant monitoring of local conditions, such as wind and waves, as well as the presence of other vessels and obstacles. The skill and experience of the pilot is therefore a major factor in determining whether navigation is carried out safely, with research showing that approximately half of all accidents are caused by human error.*2

*1 Japan Craft Inspection Organization, “Number of vessels registered in 2021”
*2 Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, “2022 White Paper on Traffic Safety"

One-tap solution for robotics and AI-based autonomous navigation

Seeking to provide a solution to these issues, in October of 2022 Eight Knot announced “Eight Knot AI CAPTAIN”, an autonomous navigation platform that provides fully-automated and safe navigation for small vessels.

A single tap on the product’s tablet-based user interface triggers Eight Knot’s proprietary AI to automatically select the optimal route and begin safe, automatic navigation to the chosen destination. Vessels utilizing AI CAPTAIN are fitted with a high-precision positioning system which receives data from the Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, as well as a LiDAR (laser imaging, detection, and ranging) scanner capable of detecting other nearby vessels and even birds floating in the surrounding waters. In addition to engaging in avoidance and evasive maneuvering tailored to each obstacle, AI CAPTAIN also allows for automated departure and docking.

Since unmanned autonomous navigation of small vessels is not permitted under current Japanese law, Eight Knot is now conducting a series of demonstration tests using AI CAPTAIN to assist operators with vessel control as part of the company’s efforts to help drive development of laws and guidelines for unmanned navigation.

Demonstration tests for unmanned navigation

Although unmanned navigation is still not feasible at present due to legal barriers, plans are underway both in Japan and abroad to revise laws related to the automation of marine vessels, with the International Maritime Organization moving toward the formulation of corresponding codes by January 2028. Eight Knot is now working on various demonstration testing in order to gain a dominant share of the market and establish its position as a platform for autonomous navigation by that time frame.

In early 2023, Eight Knot demonstrated its product’s safety by conducting a pilot operation of a water taxi equipped with AI CAPTAIN in Hiroshima Prefecture. The company has also been selected to participate in a total of 10 demonstration projects by national and local governments, including the 2023 “SBIR Promotion Program” offered by the Japanese New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization. Through this program, Eight Knot will work on demonstrating the development of autonomous navigation systems for small vessels and the establishment of associated safety indicators, while also proposing guidelines to relevant organizations to help drive the realization of unmanned navigation of small vessels.

Developing an autonomous navigation software business

Initially, Eight Knot envisions a business model in which AI CAPTAIN is physically retrofitted to existing vessels. This approach simultaneously achieves two of the company’s core objectives: the monetization of business operations, and the collection of small vessel behavioral data.

In the future, Eight Knot plans to utilize the vast amounts of data it will have gathered with this initial approach to build a higher-profit business model centered on the provision of software that enables autonomous navigation of all types of small vessels.

Global interest in autonomous navigation is steadily increasing, with companies from countries including Norway, the Netherlands, and South Korea emerging as providers of software solutions for this field. Interest is particularly strong in Europe, where Eight Knot plans to expand by 2026.

Eventually, Eight Knot hopes to install autonomous navigation systems on all water-based mobility devices. Starting with this technological achievement, the company’s business development voyage will continue toward the ambitious goal of creating unprecedented sea-based businesses and new economic opportunities.