A Ship Path Tracking Control Method Using a Fuzzy Control Integrated Line-of-Sight Guidance Law

A fuzzy control improvement method is proposed with an integral line-of-sight (ILOS) guidance principle to meet the needs of autonomous navigation and high-precision control of ship trajectories. Firstly, a three-degree-of-freedom ship motion model was established with the battery-powered container ship ZYHY LVSHUI 01 built by the COSCO Shipping Group. Secondly, a ship path-following controller based on the ILOS algorithm was designed. To satisfy the time-varying demand of the look-ahead distance parameters during the following process, especially under different navigation conditions, fuzzy logic controllers were designed for different navigation conditions to automatically adjust the look-ahead distance parameters. Thirdly, a controller was applied that uses a five-state extended Kalman filter (EKF) to estimate the heading, speed, and heading rate based on the ship’s motion model with the assistance of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) position measurements. This provides the necessary navigational information, reduces the algorithm’s dependence on sensors, and improves its generalizability. Finally, path-following experiments were carried out in the MATLAB experimental platform, and the results were compared with different following algorithms. The simulation results showed that the new algorithm has a better following performance, and it can maintain a smooth rudder angle output. The research results provide a reference for the path-following control of ships.