| dc.description.abstract | Technology has quickly become a vital part of the everyday of a mariner on board a vessel. A major part of using the full potential of a vessel was the introduction of the dynamic positioning system (DP), a computer-based system that allows the mariner to keep the vessel in its exact position with high precision. The system requires a certified dynamic positioning operator (DPO) to monitor and interact with screens holding valuable information. This decreases the time they spend monitoring the surroundings’, which could lead to reduced situational awareness. In the past decade the development of augmented reality/mixed realityglasses (AR/MR) has rapidly increased with industrial grade products entering the market, the glasses which allows the user to watch digital projected data as well as their surroundings could be a solution to reducing the time the DPO spends looking down at the screens. There is littleto no research on when and how augmented reality/mixed reality glasses should be used in a maritime opetion nonetheless DP operations. The purpose of this thesis is to add to the knowledge gap and hopefully contribute to further research by asking the following research questions, RQ1: What type of dynamic positioning operations could the operator benefit from augmented reality glasses? RQ2: What information is needed to be displayed in the augmented reality in order for the operator to safely perform their work?
To investigate where augmented reality/mixed reality glasses have potential to benefit in dynamic positioning operations a study was carried out interviewing a sample of eleven participants of which eight are active dynamic positioning operators and three are dynamic positioning instructors. The qualitative data collected in the semi-structured interviews suggests the following dynamic positioning operations with a potential use-case for augmented reality/mixed reality glasses: Complex operations where the vessel is operating nearby or close to a platform, installation, or windmill whether it be supply, construction, inspection, or maintenance. The common factor is that the user has a visual reference to orient themselves by.On the matter of how it should be used the results suggests that the data of highest importanceis data on position keeping such like, position reference systems, thruster movement and forceand relative vessel movement. The research has found fitting DP operations, uncovered what type of information is important for the DPO in today’s system and gathered some suggestions on other potential information. The goal is that this research can be of help for further research and development of an AR/MR system that will improve safety at sea | en_US |
