A neuro-fuzzy approach to fast ferry vertical motion modelling

In order to stabilise the motion of a high speed craft, and so to improve the comfort of the passengers and the crew while maintaining the speed, control-oriented model are needed. For this purpose, neuro-fuzzy systems have been used to obtain general models of the non-linear behaviour of a fast ferry. The sources of the available knowledge are the physical laws of the vertical dynamics of the craft, and some experimental and simulated data of the ship performance. Two non-linear models focused on the vertical motion of the craft, both heave and pitch, are proposed: an academic one and a predictive one. The modelling task is complex and the results are original as the problem has not been previously solved in a general way neither by applying artificial intelligence techniques. The models have been proved satisfactory with regular and also irregular waves, and they have been used for ship control purposes.