Rolls-Royce’s Technology Helps The World’s First Automated Vessel Sail Successfully

Applying autonomous technology into making unmanned vessels is the ambition of many organizations and now Falco, the first ever automated vessel has set sail and arrived at Nagu, its final destination.

Falco ferry

Behind this technology are Rolls-Royce and Finferries with their representatives onboard during the length of the demonstration. Among those on the vessel, Oskar Levander, Rolls-Royce’s Vice President Innovation, praised the day of this feat as one of the most historical moments for the shipping industry. He also added that since this technology could help improve the safety and productivity of the ferry business, the test would have a wide array of applications in the future

Mikael Makinen, Rolls-Royce’s President of the Marine business, regard this success as their most noteworthy turning point so far.

The Falco is a double-ended 53.8-meter long unmanned vessel and is powered by Rolls-Royce’s twin azimuth thrusters. During its test sail from Pargas to Nagu, it successfully navigated through the Turku Archipelago’s rough water in an unfavored wind condition.

The automated navigation systems coupled with different radar systems, better sensors, and new night-vision cameras are expected to minimize the risk of accidents brought about by human errors, which is believed to be the cause of the majority of unfortunate incidents in the shipping industry.

Levander also stated that the Falco has the ability to discover the presence of all objects in the water and recognize more and more varieties of vessels through learning.

However, in reality, Falco has missed a swimming elk during the test according to Tuumas Mikkola, Finferries' captain, who was sitting in an office in Turku. To aid Mikkola, Matti Pöyli, another master controller sailed with the ship. However, Mikkola had no difficulty maneuvering the vessel based on live feeds fed by the Falco’s sensors and cameras. According to him, the major difference laid in the fact that he was unable to have a sensory feedback.