An Indigenous PC-Based Ship Simulator Incorporating the Hydrodynamic Numerical Model and Virtual Reality Technique

Abstract

In the paper, a simulation method incorporating the hydrodynamic numerical model and virtual reality technique is developed to simulate a ship maneuvering in waves. In order to make simulation feasible, the seakeeping model and MMG maneuvering model are assumed to be independent because of the complexity of the coupling effects. Therefore the coupling motion effects between seakeeping and maneuvering are neglected. Based on the strip theory, the source distribution method is adopted to construct the database of ship motions and offers the MMG model oscillation motion behaviors. The virtual reality technique is applied to simulate the ship operating in waves using related software, World Tool Kit (WTK). The compact simulation hardware system including 3D stereo glasses, projector, screen, operation platform, personal computer, and some related peripheral facilities is driven by the numerical hydrodynamic model to simulate a ship maneuvering in waves. The system developed here is PC-based and is the first indigenous ship simulator incorporating the numerical hydrodynamic model and virtual reality technique. The integrated simulating system is economic and can be used as an efficient training tool for operating ships in waves.