Connectivity Manager: Ensuring Robust Connections for Autonomous Ships

An autonomous ship is connected to other ships, services, and the remote operations center (ROC) using multiple different radio technologies. The complex set of technologies, needs, and services demands intelligent management for the communications system. The connectivity manager is an intelligent entity ensuring robust connections for the ship in any environment. This paper describes the architecture and functionalities of the connectivity management required for an autonomous ship to be able to operate globally. Spectrum sharing, quality of service (QoS) measurements, prioritization, and regulations are covered in the paper. Finally, a short overview of how to use ship simulators in the connectivity research with the idea of digital twins is given.