Enhancing Safety in Autonomous Maritime Transportation Systems with Real-Time AI Agents
The maritime transportation sector is undergoing a profound shift with the emergence of autonomous vessels powered by real-time artificial intelligence (AI) agents. This article investigates the pivotal role of these agents in enhancing the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of autonomous mariti...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/4986 |
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| Summary: | The maritime transportation sector is undergoing a profound shift with the emergence of autonomous vessels powered by real-time artificial intelligence (AI) agents. This article investigates the pivotal role of these agents in enhancing the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of autonomous maritime systems. Following a structured literature review, we examine the architecture of real-time AI agents, including sensor integration, communication systems, and computational infrastructure. We distinguish maritime AI agents from conventional systems by emphasizing their specialized functions, real-time processing demands, and resilience in dynamic environments. Key safety mechanisms—such as collision avoidance, anomaly detection, emergency coordination, and fail-safe operations—are analyzed to demonstrate how AI agents contribute to operational reliability. The study also explores regulatory compliance, focusing on emission control, real-time monitoring, and data governance. Implementation challenges, including limited onboard computational power, legal and ethical constraints, and interoperability issues, are addressed with practical solutions such as edge AI and modular architectures. Finally, the article outlines future research directions involving smart port integration, scalable AI models, and emerging technologies like federated and explainable AI. This work highlights the transformative potential of AI agents in advancing autonomous maritime transportation. |
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| ISSN: | 2076-3417 |