Reinforcement Learning in Ship Handling

This paper presents the idea of using machine learning techniques to simulate and demonstrate learning behaviour in ship manoeuvring. Simulated model of ship is treated as an agent, which through environmental sensing learns itself to navigate through restricted waters selecting an optimum trajectory. Learning phase of the task is to observe current state and choose one of the available actions. The agent gets positive reward for reaching destination and negative reward for hitting an obstacle. Few reinforcement learning algorithms are considered. Experimental results based on simulation program are presented for different layouts of possible routes within restricted area.