Skip to main content

Rolls-Royce and VTT partner to develop smart ships

Rolls-Royce and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have announced a strategic partnership to design, test and validate the first generation of remote and autonomous ships. The new partnership will combine and integrate the two company’s unique expertise to make such vessels a commercial reality. Rolls-Royce is pioneering the development of remote controlled and autonomous ships and believes a remote controlled ship will be in commercial use by the end of the decade. The company is applying technol
November 15, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
4348 Rolls-Royce and 814 VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have announced a strategic partnership to design, test and validate the first generation of remote and autonomous ships. The new partnership will combine and integrate the two company’s unique expertise to make such vessels a commercial reality.

Rolls-Royce is pioneering the development of remote controlled and autonomous ships and believes a remote controlled ship will be in commercial use by the end of the decade. The company is applying technology, skills and experience from across its businesses to this development.

VTT has deep knowledge of ship simulation and extensive expertise in the development and management of safety-critical and complex systems in demanding environments such as nuclear safety. They combine physical tests such as model and tank testing, with digital technologies, such as data analytics and computer visualisation. They will also use field research to incorporate human factors into safe ship design. As a result of working with the Finnish telecommunications sector, VTT has extensive experience of working with 5G mobile phone technology and wi-fi mesh networks. VTT has the first 5G test network in Finland.  

Working with VTT will allow Rolls-Royce to assess the performance of remote and autonomous designs through the use of both traditional model tank tests and digital simulation, allowing the company to develop functional, safe and reliable prototypes.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • The future? It's remote, says Valerann
    January 4, 2024
    More responsive traffic management is of enormous value – and Valerann thinks its SaaS system, remotely deployed in Latin America, is able to identify incidents much more quickly, finds Andrew Stone
  • TRL's DigiCar driving simulator becomes fully automated
    November 18, 2014
    As the path to acceptance of automated vehicles on the UK’s roads moves forward, so does TRL’s role in developing robust research tools to provide the necessary evidence as to the human response to automation and its general acceptance by the driving population. Behind the scenes, TRL experts have been working on developing the software required to enable the transition of DigiCar to run as an automated vehicle as and when required. As a result, TRL’s full mission driving simulator, DigiCar, has devel
  • TrafiOne the focal point for Flir Systems at Intertraffic
    April 4, 2016
    Flir Systems is using Intertraffic to launch the Flir TrafiOne Smart City Sensor, an all-round detection sensor for traffic monitoring and dynamic traffic signal control. Offered in a compact and easy-to-install package, the device uses thermal imaging and Wi-Fi tracking technology to provide traffic engineers with high-resolution data on vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians at intersections and in urban environments.
  • Teledyne Flir has smart thinking at its core
    September 20, 2022
    Teledyne FLIR is showcasing the full spectrum of its smart city and traffic management solutions at ITS World Congress in Los Angeles. The solutions provide signal control, data analysis, incident response and public transit monitoring.