Artificial Intelligence Special Interest Group

From marine scientists through to mariners and naval personnel, AI and machine learning is entering all professions. Bob Doncom, chair of the IMarEST AI Special Interest Group outlines why now is the time to get involved in this growing area of technical innovation. 

AI Special Interest Group chair Bob Doncom has worked in the maritime domain since the late 1970s, when he was an apprentice design engineer at Vosper Thornycroft, the UK warship builder. Having started his career as a mechanical engineer, he found himself moving further and further into control systems and software. He has worked in defence and aerospace, telecoms and the nuclear world for 45 years, and his current role is Head of a ‘Complex Systems’ team within Babcock’s Naval Nuclear business, maintaining UK submarines. 

Why AI and why now? 

Doncom’s decision to be part of the SIG came about quite spontaneously during a presentation by former IMarEST president Kevin Daffey. “AI was mentioned, and it was debated whether we should have a dedicated SIG,” says Doncom. “I offered to set it up, and that was the start of it. I was working in the Autonomy and Controls space at the time, and it seemed a good thing to offer to do, as it aligns well with my interests.” 

The chair’s motivations for the SIG are clear. “The Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) space is becoming less ‘science fiction’, and more ‘industrial fact’,” says Doncom who says now is the right time for members to engage with, challenge, and embrace this technology in a dedicated environment. 

“Autonomy is already in our world, and there are some good uses of AI/ML in that space and also in the design world,” says Doncom. He sees that other SIGs are already starting to address AI/ML, so he believes the time is right to have a ‘go-to’ group for the technology space. 

More approachable and trustworthy 

“The AI/ML space is affecting, (or hopefully effecting), all of our lives, from what we watch and listen to in the media, to what adverts we see, and how we are moved around the world.  The largest challenge, and opportunity, as I see it is to make the technology approachable,” says Doncom.  

“If people can understand how something works, they are more likely to trust it, and enhance it even, and less likely to be nervous of its impact,” he adds. Doncom likes to use the phrase 'Intelligent Assistant' or IA to describe the new technology, so members stop worrying about ‘killer robots’ and start to see something that will benefit them.

Doncom’s goal for the SIG is not to dwell on the what or why but rather to look at who and how. Early plans are to make a series of explorations into current technical activities, and to use the underlying data science to explain how the AI/ML systems are underpinning those activities. Cross-SIG linkage will be important with informal interactions already in place with other SIGs such as Human Element, NESIG, and MASS, that are independently starting to touch the AI/ML space.  

“My hope is to grow the group with presentations from those in the AI/ML space, and to that end, I have already been speaking with potential presenters,” says Doncom. He’d like the SIG membership to be a blend of AI/ML professionals, and those who are interested in the technology and how it might affect their evolving careers.  

Chair of the AI SIG Bob Doncom CEng CMarEng FIMarEST

Open to code  

Although not a prerequisite for joining, Doncom thinks SIG members will be open to familiarising themselves with mathematical modelling, data science and software engineering. “I always tell people to brush up on their statistics and maths, before diving in to the deep end. A programming language is also a good thing to get under one’s belt, before starting down the ‘Deep Neural Net’ path. All AI/ML really does is an evolution of ‘old’ tech like Monte-Carlo analysis or statistical projection. If people are already in the field, then it is always good to write some code, and actually do a ‘bit of the science’, rather than just the politics and hype.” 

Kevin Daffey is delighted Bob Doncom will be pushing forward a strong agenda in an important growing area of technical innovation for marine science and technology. "Artificial Intelligence is already transforming marine science and shipping and many members are already using AI,” he says. “So it is appropriate that the IMarEST relaunches our AI SIG to connect our AI community of users and experts together to share knowledge, learn lessons and use our collective influence to shape regulation and standards.” 

Doncom is equally pleased to take on the role. “AI is a great interest of mine, so I was willing to help from the moment it was mentioned. My background in naval control systems, such as those on the Queen Elizabeth Carriers, and our submarine fleet, makes it almost a natural progression to me,” he concludes.    

The IMarEST would like to hear from members interested in joining this new Artificial Intelligence (AI) SIG. Get in touch with the technical policy group on [email protected] for more.