A Backstepping Approach to Ship Course Control: As an object of course control, the ship is characterised by a nonlinear function describing static manoeuvring characteristics that reflect the steady-state relation between the rudder deflection and the rate of turn of the hull. One of the methods which can be used for designing a nonlinear ship course controller is the backstepping method. It is used here for designing two configurations of nonlinear controllers, which are then applied to ship course control. The parameters of the obtained nonlinear control structures are tuned to optimise the operation of the control system. The optimisation is performed using genetic algorithms. The quality of operation of the designed control algorithms is checked in simulation tests performed on the mathematical model of a tanker. In order to obtain reference results to be used for comparison with those recorded for nonlinear controllers designed using the backstepping method, a control system with the PD controller is examined as well.

The article discusses the problem of designing a proper and efficient adaptive course-keeping control system for a seagoing ship based on the adaptive backstepping method. The proposed controller in the design stage takes into account the dynamic properties of the steering gear and the full nonlinear static maneuvering characteristic. The adjustable parameters of the achieved nonlinear control structure were tuned up by using the genetic algorithm in order to optimize the system performance. A realistic full-scale simulation model of the B-481 type vessel including wave and wind effects was applied to simulate the control algorithm by using time domain analysis.

In this paper a comparison of single and multi-population evolutionary algorithm is presented. Tested algorithms are used to determine close to optimal ship paths in collision avoidance situation. For this purpose a path planning problem is defined. A specific structure of the individual path and fitness function is presented. Principle of operation of single-population and multi-population evolutionary algorithm is described. Using presented algorithms the simulations on three close to real sea environments were performed. Regardless of the test situation constant time simulation was maintained. Obtained results are presented in graphical form (sequences of successive stages of the simulation) and in form of table in which the values of fitness function for best individual in each simulation were compared. Undertaken research allow to select evolutionary algorithm that, assuming constant simulation time, will determine a better path in close to real collision avoidance situation at sea.