Italian maritime robotics expert, Marco Bibuli, was honoured for his work on team-capable, smart robots. He was announced as the winner of the DNV GL COMPIT Award 2017, at the COMPIT conference in Cardiff.
Bibuli works at the Italian research centre CNR-ISSIA in Genoa. Through a [ds_preview]combination of machine vision, machine learning and cybernetics (control engineering), he has developed the CADDY project (Cognitive Autonomous Diving Buddy) through to the first field testing stages. The prototypes give a glance at a future where robots become ubiquitous helpers, used for underwater inspection, cleaning, rescue operations, tank surveys and other tasks, supporting divers for increased safety and efficiency.
»The jury singled out Marco Bibuli, because his work brought advanced techniques of Artificial Intelligence to practical applications, representing innovative engineering at its finest. In Bibuli’s applications, the robots are not replacing the human, but act as caddies, supporting a diver in his work, for enhanced efficiency and safety,« says COMPIT organizer Volker Bertram from DNV GL
COMPIT is the abbreviation for »Computer Applications and Information Technology in the Maritime Industries«. The conference, which took place for the sixteenth time, offered information on advanced IT applications for the lifecycle of ships and offshore structures. Topics such as »Autonomous maritime systems«, »Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality«, »Yards 4.0« and »Big Data«, amongst others, were discussed by the participants. (Read the preview here.)
As in previous years, DNV GL was a main sponsor of this event and for the tenth time presented an outstanding scientist with the DNV GL COMPIT Award. Previous winners of the award are:
- 2016 Henrique M. Gaspar (Norway)
- 2015 Tatsuo Nishikawa (Japan)
- 2014 Marcus Bole (UK)
- 2013 Herbert Koelman (NL)
- 2012 Rachel Pawling (UK)
- 2011 Denis Morais (Canada)
- 2010 —
- 2009 Matthias Schneider / Thomas Glotzbach (Germany)
- 2008 Cassiano Marins de Souza (Brazil)
- 2007 Jean-David Caprace (Belgium)
As for many years, HANSA again was media partner of the 2017 edition of COMPIT. Read the conference review in the upcoming HANSA edition and watch out for more COMPIT topics in the issues to come. The 2016 review can be read here.