Sparse Identification of Nonlinear Dynamics of a Ship in Path-Following Problem

This paper focuses on identifying the model of nonlinear dynamics of a container ship considering four degrees of freedom: surge, sway, roll, and yaw. The ship is simulated in a path-following problem scenario with Proportional Integral (PI) control acting on surge and yaw velocities, denoted by u and r respectively. The simulation data is then utilized to feed a MATLAB code implementing the SINDy algorithm, aimed at deriving a data-driven model capable of describing the dynamics of the studied problem.

The sparse identification of nonlinear dynamics (SINDy) algorithm is employed to extract the underlying dynamics from the simulation data, providing a compact and interpretable model. By leveraging the data-driven approach, the identified model captures the essential dynamics of the ship's behavior in the path-following scenario.

The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology in identifying the nonlinear dynamics of the container ship accurately. This research not only advances our comprehension of ship dynamics in path-following scenarios but also underscores the critical importance of precisely understanding these dynamics. Such knowledge is pivotal for devising robust control strategies tailored to the unique challenges posed by maritime operations.