A group of Japanese technology companies – consisting of NYK Group company MTI, Japan Marine United Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group company Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, Furuno Electric, Japan Radio, BEMAC Corporation, ClassNK and NAPA – are to join forces to establish a collaborative program called Maritime and Ocean Digital Engineering (MODE).
Starting on October 1, 2022, at the University of Tokyo in Japan, the group will promote and enhance digital engineering technology and skills for the maritime sector by building cooperative simulation platforms. With the Japanese maritime industry facing several challenges including decarbonization and the integration of autonomous ships to improve safety and assistance for seafarers, MODE aims to use model-based development (MBD) and model-based systems engineering (MBSE) to tackle such issues.
By utilizing MBD and MBSE, the group will be able to examine the functions of products and components as computer models and simulations. This will enable the optimization of complex system designs and a collaborative development process between stakeholders, shippers and operators.
The program for research and education on MBD and MBSE for the maritime field will be established by forming a network between the Graduate Schools of Frontier Sciences and Engineering at the University of Tokyo and other international universities and research institutes that promote advanced engineering initiatives. Experts from the automobile, aerospace and aviation industries will also be involved in the project.
In addition to developing and implementing the deployment of new technologies, MODE is expected to expand to investigate other maritime technologies such as offshore wind power generation and subsea resource development.
MODE aims to support the development of next-generation technologies and skills in Japan’s maritime sector, and act as a platform for collaboration between industry, academia and the country’s government.