Page 82 - Australian Defence Magazine October 2019

DEFENCE
PACIFIC
AI
People will be working with all kinds of AI as technology progresses.
What will it take to trust
AT the turn of 20th century, American inventor Elmer Sperry developed the gy- rocompass, which uses the rotation of the Earth together with a rotating wheel to point towards the true North determined by Earth rotation axis. This device offered a great advantage over the magnetic com- pass for ship navigation since the perfor- mance of the gyrocompass is not affected by the metal objects in the surroundings of the device; something that could hardly be avoided on ships at the time.
A few years later, in about 1930s, Sperry also developed the first gyro-pilot, a device which used the gyro-compass together with a steering mechanism to implement an automated course-keeping function. This was adopted by the US Navy, and the crew called the gyro-pilot “Metal Mike” since it emulated the commands of a helmsman. This was the inception of the automation age in maritime platforms, which was then followed by the develop- ment of several other pieces of automation.
Today, marine craft incorporates so- phisticated automation that enables safe, efficient, and sustainable operations. However, as we are entering the age of autonomous systems questions arise as to what makes autonomy and most impor- tantly how we can trust this new wave of advanced automation. In this article, we explore the function of a new “Digital Mike” as the embodiment of autonomy, how it relates to its old uncle Metal Mike, and how can we trust it.
Why Digital Mike?
Today’s marine craft conducting opera- tions and defence can incorporate these highly-sophisticated pieces of automation. For example, ferries not only incorporate course-keeping autopilots and speed con- trol systems, but also ride control systems that aim to reduce the motion induced by the waves to maintain crew efficiency and passenger comfort. Naval platforms may additionally incorporate systems that al- low them to come into and maintain for- mation and to develop motion patters that enable the efficient use of particular sensors andweapons.
If we move into offshore operations in oil and gas, we also find dynamic position- ing systems that use the propulsion units for stationkeeping - maintaining position and heading and reduce the loads of moor- ing lines of offshore rigs. As sustainability regulations for the protection of the en- vironment become widespread across na- tions, power management and emissions
autonomous systems?
DR TRISTAN PEREZ | BRISBANE
What does trust look
like when it comes autonomous systems that use AI elements? How do we design and test for it?
82 | October 2019 | www.australiandefence.com.au