In April 2024 during the final segment of the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), Greenroom Robotics successfully completed the autonomous navigation of Endurance Trials. Read more >>
The company contributed to a landmark achievement in maritime autonomy over four days, from April 16th to 19th, using a decommissioned Armidale-class Patrol Boat renamed ‘Sentinel’ and equipped with Greenroom’s GAMA software.
The vessel autonomously navigated a challenging route from Cape Naturaliste to the northernmost point of Geraldton (Bluff Point) and back, covering approximately 1,305 kilometers (705 nautical miles).
GAMA autonomously managed 95% of the voyage, handling navigation tasks, collision avoidance, and course adjustments. The crew, comprising members from Greenroom Robotics, Austal, Trusted Autonomous Systems, and Integrated Maritime Systems, remained onboard only as a precautionary measure but did not need to intervene.
GAMA’s COLREGS-aware autonomy played a crucial role, executing nearly 150 avoidance maneuvers throughout the trial to navigate around other vessels and potential hazards. The software’s advanced capabilities demonstrated its potential to significantly reduce maritime operational costs by automating the tasks typically handled by large crews.
For example, an Armidale-class patrol boat typically requires 21-29 crew members, costing over A$1 million annually in salaries alone. GAMA’s autonomous control drastically reduces these costs.
In addition to GAMA, other solutions from the Greenroom platform contributed to the success of the trial. Lookout+, a hazard detection system integrated with GAMA, continuously monitored nearby vessels and objects not picked up by radar or AIS.
This system enhanced GAMA’s hazard response capabilities, ensuring smoother and safer navigation. The combination of these technologies helped reduce human workload and improve decision-making during the operation, which is especially critical in applications like national security and border protection.
Greenroom’s MarOps software streamlined the planning, execution, and data analysis processes, ensuring all trial operations adhered to safety protocols while boosting efficiency. This operational management system, which saved time during the trial, can similarly improve productivity in the maritime sector by minimizing downtime and enhancing response times in real-world applications.
Before the Sentinel set sail, Greenroom’s mission simulation software, MIS-SIM, played a vital role in preparing for the real-world trial. By creating a digital twin of the Sentinel, the team simulated the route and optimized strategies to anticipate and address potential challenges. This capability to simulate operations in advance can help mitigate risks, enhance mission success rates, and improve overall maritime readiness.
Throughout the trials, Greenroom’s onboard team, which included a test director and two technical support staff, worked in shifts to oversee the mission. Their efforts ensured the objectives were met with precision. A standout benefit of GAMA’s autonomous capabilities is its ability to conduct high-risk missions without placing human lives in danger.
Autonomous vessels can be deployed in hazardous areas, such as minefields or regions of conflict, where the risks to crewed vessels are high. By relying on GAMA, dangerous tasks can be accomplished safely and effectively.
The successful conclusion of the PBAT Endurance Trials highlights the potential of autonomous maritime technologies not only in defense but also in broader commercial maritime applications.
With Austal as a key partner, Greenroom Robotics aims to make the oceans safer and cleaner through the ethical application of Robotics, Autonomous Systems, and AI (RASAI).
Read the original case study, or visit the Greenroom Robotics website for more information.
