Our follow-up research on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) highlights the critical role of the Operational Design Domain (ODD) in defining the specific environmental, geographical, and operational conditions under which MASS can safely operate. It emphasises the need for rigorous assurance processes to manage the heightened software complexity and autonomous decision-making challenges inherent in MASS.
The research also underscores the importance of a well-defined Operational Envelope (OE), which extends the ODD by incorporating system-level configurations, state transitions, and human-automation task allocation. By addressing the ambiguities and proposing a refined OE framework, the report aims to enhance safety, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder confidence in the commercial viability of MASS.
This report is part of LR's Digital Transformation Research Programme and was written in consultation with the University of Warwick - WMG.
