Optimization Study of Ship Speed Based on Membrane Computing Theory

In this paper, a speed optimisation algorithm based on membrane computing theory is proposed for Yangtze River bulk carriers. First, a ship energy consumption model is constructed and validated based on the improved Ayer’s method. Then a global optimization algorithm, called the membrane computing theory-based diffusion optimization algorithm (MC-DOA), is proposed, which is inspired by the double-membrane cell structure of chloroplasts and mitochondria as well as the phenomenon of particle diffusion, and makes use of a mixed-membrane structural system and four different particle searching strategies to search for global optimum values. Finally, a sailing speed optimization model is developed with the objective of optimal energy consumption and constraints such as specified sailing arrival time. In order to verify the effectiveness of the speed optimization algorithm, a 6700-ton bulk carrier on the Yangtze River is taken as the target ship, and a typical route from Chongqing to Shanghai is selected for the optimization test. The results show that the proposed speed optimization algorithm is able to solve the inland waterway speed optimization problem efficiently, and save the fuel consumption of the ship by optimizing the ship’s speed effectively.