- Q: What is your current research topic?
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We are researching the development of next-generation ship technologies, such as "autonomous ships" and "carbon-neutral ships," as well as the development of core technologies and regulatory compliance for social implementation.
Regarding autonomous ships, I am mainly researching technology that uses AI to detect obstacles from camera images and the creation of 4D digital waterway charts.In addition to technological development, I am also involved in formulating safety standards and inspection methods on government-related committees and responding to legal regulations.
As a new initiative, we have begun building a maritime situation awareness system using HAPS (High Altitude Platform), which flies at an altitude of 2 meters and is equipped with visible light cameras and infrared cameras to detect objects on the sea.
We are also conducting research into the spread of battery-powered ships as part of our efforts to become carbon neutral. One of the reasons battery-powered ships are not widespread is the lack of development of charging infrastructure. While Europe has infrastructure capable of supplying large amounts of electricity, the charging facilities installed in Japan have a capacity that is less than one-tenth of that in Europe. Against this background, we are working to promote the importance of developing social infrastructure and to work with governments and other relevant parties to advance this development. - Q: What motivated you to start researching this?
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- Since my uncles were professors of engineering at universities and technical colleges, I was vaguely interested in research on technological development since I was a child. However, I started working on my current research topic when I graduated from Tokyo University of Mercantile Marine, one of the predecessors of our university, and during my on-board training as a student, the treaty was revised and the training content was changed slightly. At that time, I heard the instructors at the time say something like, "It was decided by officials who didn't know the field." The instructors were also affiliated with the Ministry of Transport (now the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) Maritime Training Center, so I saw them as people from the same Ministry of Transport, and I thought that if we were in the same organization, we should take action to adjust the rules ourselves, so I started to work on research such as laws and regulations and rule formation. If you say, "Don't decide laws and regulations and rules without knowing the field," I think you need to communicate more from the field's perspective.
- Q: What is interesting and rewarding about your research?
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A major motivation for my research is how to overcome the regulatory, technological, and social obstacles that stand in the way.
- Q: What are some of the challenges and difficulties you face in your research?
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- It's about how to demonstrate the cause and gain public understanding. It's not enough to simply make a technological breakthrough; public support and safety measures are essential for the spread of new technology. What kind of rules and safety measures should be created for that, how persuasive are those rules and safety measures, and how many people can be convinced by them? I think engineers need to disseminate that kind of information more.
- Q: What kind of social impact can you expect from your research?
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In addition to the development of new technologies that are expected to have a social impact, such as autonomous ships and carbon-neutral ships, the challenge for the future is to develop human resources who can use them appropriately. For example, technology has been developed to convert ship engines from heavy oil to ammonia fuel, but special measures are required for handling ammonia. In order to implement this in society, education and training is necessary not only for companies that operate ships, but also for related organizations that respond to emergencies, such as the Japan Coast Guard and the Self-Defense Forces.
We are also working on developing education and training, as well as operational technologies, which includes establishing such a social system, and we hope that this will have a social impact as well.
- Q: Which SDGs can your research contribute to?
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- Our efforts in next-generation ship technologies, such as autonomous ships and carbon-neutral ships, are directly linked to "Goal 13: Take urgent action on climate change." They are also related to "Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy," "Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote industry, innovation and infrastructure," "Goal 13: Take urgent action on climate change," and "Goal 14: Protect, sustain, and protect the life of the ocean." The spread of electric infrastructure is also expected to have an impact on the development of regions and cities, which I believe will contribute to "Goal 11: Make cities and towns sustainable."
- Q: What is the significance of conducting research at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology?
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- Our School of Marine Engineering originally developed from Tokyo University of Mercantile Marine, which trains shipboard personnel for ocean-going ships. In recent years, we have found it meaningful to be able to take on an engineering approach within the context of the common keyword of "using ships," such as in the development of marine resources and offshore wind power generation.
- Q Research Policy
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In my research activities, I place great importance on the attitude of "defeating the righteous." I believe it is important to not be trapped by personal interests or small interests, but to look at the interests of Japan as a whole, and even the world as a whole, and to aim for the best solutions for society as a whole.
We aim to maintain a broad perspective in line with the times and social trends, and to find balanced solutions that offer the greatest common denominator for society as a whole. - Professor Etsuro Shimizu's OA paper is here
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Paper title: A Framework for Requirements Management to Develop Safety Management and Operation of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships
Author/co-author: Ayako Umeda and Etsuro Shimizu
Published in: International Journal of Computer Science and Mobile Applications
Publication date: November 2024
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8116501
