Furuno Electric Presents Research on Simulation Platform for Autonomous Ship Development at the Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers Spring Meeting

Furuno Electric Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, President and Representative Director: Yukio Furuno, hereinafter referred to as "the Company") announced its research findings on a simulation platform for the development of autonomous ships at the "2026 Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers Spring Meeting" held on May 28, 2026 (Thu) at the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Etchujima Campus.

A Furuno Electric engineer introduced the development method and effectiveness of a simulation platform that supports the design and verification of autonomous ships.

Background

Expectations are rising for the realization of autonomous ships, driven by the global shortage of seafarers and the need to improve the safety of maritime transport. On the other hand, the design and construction of ships are becoming increasingly complex, making it a significant challenge to balance the efficiency of the development process with quality assurance. In response to these challenges, Model-Based Development (MBD*1) and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE*2), which are being introduced in the automotive and aerospace fields, are attracting attention as effective approaches. At the University of Tokyo's collaborative research program "Maritime Digital Engineering (MODE)," companies and organizations in the maritime industry are collaborating to build a common simulation platform that will support next-generation maritime logistics and to research MBD/MBSE. Furuno Electric is participating in this project and is engaged in the design and implementation of a simulation platform to support the system development of autonomous ships. Furthermore, in the "Designing the Future of Fully Autonomous Ships Plus Consortium (DFFAS+)" of the unmanned ship project "MEGURI2040," in which Furuno Electric is participating, system design using MBSE and development utilizing simulators are progressing, highlighting the growing importance of a platform that supports design and verification as an integrated process.

Presentation Content

The simulation platform developed in this research integrates elements necessary for autonomous navigation, such as sensors, controllers, and hull motion, as models. It enables performance evaluation of the entire system through collaboration with external software and hardware. Since the simulation platform itself is a complex system with many interconnected elements, MBSE methods were applied. Specifically, after clarifying the scope of the system, needs were organized based on surveys of stakeholders in the maritime industry and defined as system requirements. Subsequently, the system's structure and behavior were modeled using SysML*3, a system modeling language, visualizing the correspondence between the design and the needs, leading to implementation. Furthermore, this research focused on the need for "support for diverse simulations," which is central to the simulation platform, and verified the platform's effectiveness through two different types of simulations: risk assessment during "collision avoidance" and control performance evaluation during "undocking." As a result, it was confirmed that evaluation results such as navigation routes and collision risk indicators can be output quantitatively and visually. This demonstrated that the platform can be used for a wide range of applications in the design and verification of autonomous ships.

Overview of Simulation Platform Design Model

Modeled Internal System Structure

Simulation Image of Hull

Through this initiative, a simulation platform was developed that emphasizes the correspondence between stakeholder needs and system design. In the future, Furuno Electric will proceed with the implementation of functions that are currently in the design stage, and by sharing and utilizing this simulation platform among stakeholders, it will identify needs that have not been fully understood to date and reflect them in the design. Furthermore, aiming for the completion of the MODE project in September 2027, Furuno Electric will strive to build a more practical simulation platform in collaboration with related companies.

Presentation Title

Research on Simulation Platform for Autonomous Ship Development

Presenter

Shunpei Yasuda, Autonomous Navigation Systems Development Department, Development & Design Headquarters, Marine Equipment Division, Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.

Comment

Efficient development utilizing simulators is required for the realization of autonomous ships. However, since the simulation platform itself has a complex system structure similar to autonomous ships, it is necessary to proceed with development based on a systematic process. Therefore, this research incorporated MBSE into the design of the simulation platform. By visualizing the correspondence between needs and design, we believe it will be easier for stakeholders to share the design intent even for complex systems. We will continue to promote technology development that can contribute to the safe and smooth social implementation of autonomous ships in collaboration with everyone in the maritime industry.

*1 MBD: A development method that models the functions of products and their components and verifies their operation through simulation.

*2 MBSE: A development method that takes an overall view of the system and performs optimal design while reflecting stakeholder needs.

*3 SysML: A modeling language for expressing system structure, behavior, requirements, and constraints using diagrams and models.

Related Links

Announcement on August 8, 2022 (Furuno Electric): Establishment of Collaborative Research Program "Maritime Digital Engineering" at the University of Tokyo https://www.furuno.co.jp/news/general/general_category.html?itemid=1190&dispmid=1017

FURUNO MIRAI PULSE conveys various information such as new businesses, latest technologies, initiatives with co-creation companies, community interaction, and events that Furuno Electric is developing. (*Pulse: A single signal that changes rapidly, like a pulse or vibration.)

https://future-vision.furuno.co.jp/mirai-pulse/

Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.

Since successfully commercializing the world's first fish finder in 1948, Furuno Electric has continued to provide numerous world-first and Japan-first products based on its unique ultrasonic and electronic technologies in the field of marine electronic equipment. Today, with a sales network established in over 100 countries worldwide, Furuno Electric has built a solid position and brand as a comprehensive global manufacturer of marine electronic equipment.

Furuno Electric Co., Ltd. Research and Development Building "SOUTH WING"

Headquarters: Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture

Established: 1951 (Showa 26)

Business: Manufacturing and sales of marine and industrial electronic equipment, etc.

Capital: 7,534 million yen

Employees (Consolidated): 3,411

Sales (Consolidated): 140,616 million yen

Representative: Yukio Furuno

Listed Exchange: Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market