Wang, C, Zhang, X, Yang, Z, Bashir, M and Lee, K (2023) Collision avoidance for autonomous ship using deep reinforcement learning and prior-knowledge-based approximate representation. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9.

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Abstract

Reinforcement learning (RL) has shown superior performance in solving sequential decision problems. In recent years, RL is gradually being used to solve unmanned driving collision avoidance decision-making problems in complex scenarios. However, ships encounter many scenarios, and the differences in scenarios will seriously hinder the application of RL in collision avoidance at sea. Moreover, the iterative speed of trial-and-error learning for RL in multi-ship encounter scenarios is slow. To solve this problem, this study develops a novel intelligent collision avoidance algorithm based on approximate representation reinforcement learning (AR-RL) to realize the collision avoidance of maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS) in a continuous state space environment involving interactive learning capability like a crew in navigation situation. The new algorithm uses an approximate representation model to deal with the optimization of collision avoidance strategies in a dynamic target encounter situation. The model is combined with prior knowledge and International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) for optimal performance. This is followed by a design of an online solution to a value function approximation model based on gradient descent. This approach can solve the problem of large-scale collision avoidance policy learning in static-dynamic obstacles mixed environment. Finally, algorithm tests were constructed though two scenarios (i.e., the coastal static obstacle environment and the static-dynamic obstacles mixed environment) using Tianjin Port as an example and compared with multiple groups of algorithms. The results show that the algorithm can improve the large-scale learning efficiency of continuous state space of dynamic obstacle environment by approximate representation. At the same time, the MASS can efficiently and safely avoid obstacles enroute to reaching its target destination. It therefore makes significant contributions to ensuring safety at sea in a mixed traffic involving both manned and MASS in near future.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	0405 Oceanography; 0602 Ecology
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications T Technology > T Technology (General) T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) V Naval Science > VM Naval architecture. Shipbuilding. Marine engineering
Divisions:	Engineering
Publisher:	Frontiers Media SA
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	27 Jan 2023 09:32
Last Modified:	27 Jan 2023 09:32
DOI or ID number:	10.3389/fmars.2022.1084763
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/18742

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