Automated Ice Detection and Polar Navigation Tool (PolarNav)

The DON26BZ01-NV027 RFP seeks to develop PolarNav, an Automated Ice Detection and Polar Navigation Tool. The objective is to create a prototype system that integrates diverse sea ice condition data—from shipboard, airborne, and spaceborne sensors, as well as sea ice models—to provide optimized route options for navigation in polar regions. This tool aims to overcome the limitations of current manual ice navigation processes, which rely heavily on temporally limited satellite imagery and often separate analysis and route planning functions. The prototype will be a geographic-information-system-based tool leveraging AI, first-principles algorithms, and automated data processing to offer 12-96 hour sea ice forecasts and suggest navigation routes. These routes will consider vessel specifications like ice resistance and fuel consumption, providing options for speed, shortest path, and minimal wear. Phase I involves developing a conceptual framework for data fusion and route planning. Phase II will focus on building a standalone prototype software with a display interface for operational testing on a vessel, connecting to various data streams and offering multiple optimized route options. Phase III aims to further develop this into a commercial tool for U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers, ice-hardened Navy vessels, and commercial industries such as shipping, fishing, and tourism in polar regions.