Centre for Autonomous Marine Operations and Systems

Centre for Autonomous Marine Operations and Systems
Name	Centre for Autonomous Marine Operations and Systems
Established	2015
Type	Research centre
Director	Morten Breivik
Parent	Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Location	Trondheim, Norway
Website	https://www.ntnu.edu/amos

Centre for Autonomous Marine Operations and Systems. It is a world-leading research centre dedicated to the development of autonomous systems for marine and maritime applications. Established as a Centre for Research-based Innovation and later a Centre of Excellence, it is hosted by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. The centre integrates expertise from cybernetics, robotics, marine technology, and computer science to address challenges in ocean exploration, environmental monitoring, and offshore operations.

Overview

The centre was officially launched in 2015 with significant funding from the Research Council of Norway and a consortium of industrial partners. Its foundational vision is to create intelligent, sensor-based systems for autonomous operations in complex and harsh marine environments. Core activities are structured around cross-disciplinary collaboration between NTNU departments, including the Department of Engineering Cybernetics and the Department of Marine Technology. Leadership has been provided by directors such as Morten Breivik and Asgeir Sørensen, who have steered its strategic direction towards both fundamental science and industrial innovation.

Research Areas

Primary research is organized into several interconnected thematic areas. A major focus is on autonomous vehicles, encompassing the development of unmanned surface vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, and their integration into coordinated fleets. Another critical area is marine robotics, which involves advanced guidance, navigation, and control systems for operations under ice or in dynamic ocean currents. Research also targets sensor fusion and perception, using acoustics, LiDAR, and computer vision to enable situational awareness. Furthermore, significant work is dedicated to maritime operations, aiming to automate complex tasks for the offshore wind and aquaculture industries.

Key Facilities and Infrastructure

The centre operates and has access to state-of-the-art experimental facilities. A cornerstone is the NTNU Marine Cybernetics Laboratory, which features advanced testing tanks and simulators. For field work, researchers utilize the RV Gunnerus, a research vessel operated by NTNU, and the Ocean Space Centre, a planned large-scale marine infrastructure project. The centre also maintains a fleet of prototype autonomous vehicles, including the Hugin AUV and custom-built USVs. These resources are complemented by high-performance computing clusters for simulation and data analysis at NTNU.

Collaborations and Partnerships

Collaboration is a central pillar, with a strong network spanning academia, industry, and government. Key academic partners include the University of Oslo, SINTEF, and international institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley. Industrial consortium members and partners feature major players such as Kongsberg Maritime, Equinor, DNV GL, and Rolls-Royce Marine. The centre also engages in European Union frameworks like Horizon 2020 and collaborates closely with the Norwegian Coast Guard and the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment on security-related applications.

Education and Training

The centre plays a vital role in educating the next generation of engineers and scientists. It supports numerous PhD and postdoctoral researcher positions, often in collaboration with its industry partners. It contributes to master's programs at NTNU, such as Marine Technology and Cybernetics and Robotics, and organizes specialized courses and summer schools. Annual events like the AMOS Conference and the NTNU Tech Talks series provide platforms for knowledge dissemination. The training philosophy emphasizes hands-on experience with real-world systems, preparing graduates for careers in academia and the maritime sector.

Notable Projects and Achievements

The centre has been involved in several high-profile projects demonstrating its research impact. These include autonomous ship collision avoidance systems tested in the Trondheimsfjord and pioneering work on dynamic positioning for robotic vessels. Researchers have conducted groundbreaking Arctic missions with autonomous vehicles under sea ice. The centre's work contributed to the conceptual development of the Yara Birkeland, one of the world's first fully electric and autonomous container ships. Its scientists have received prestigious recognitions, including the IEEE Ocean Engineering Society awards and the Kongsberg Maritime research prize.

Category:Research institutes in Norway Category:Norwegian University of Science and Technology Category:Robotics organizations Category:Maritime research