Schümann, Marc-AndreMarc-AndreSchümannAl-Falouji, GhassanGhassanAl-FaloujiSmirnov, NikitaNikitaSmirnovDenizer, BirkanBirkanDenizerHummel, MarekMarekHummelTomforde, SvenSvenTomfordeNowotka, DirkDirkNowotkaLandsiedel, OlafOlafLandsiedelKohn, DavidDavidKohnKühl, BjarneBjarneKühlSchramm, HaukeHaukeSchrammPiwonski, JaroslawJaroslawPiwonskiDohse, NilsNilsDohseSchwarze, BjörnBjörnSchwarzeSommerstedt, DanielDanielSommerstedt2025-11-192025-11-192025-10-01Journal of Physics. Conference Series 3123: 012021 (2025)https://hdl.handle.net/11420/58852Autonomous and remotely operated vessels are poised to transform maritime mobility, logistics, and research. This paper presents the MS Wavelab, a comprehensive research platform for intelligent, certifiable, and resilient autonomous surface vessel (ASV) operation in coastal and inland waterways. We introduce a layered navigation framework that integrates sensor fusion, machine learning, and rule-aware path planning to achieve robust situational awareness (SA) and collision avoidance (COLAV) in dynamic maritime environments. To address the lack of domain-specific training data, we curate a high-quality dataset of over 50,000 annotated images from 10,000 hours of video footage collected in real-world operations. This supports a camera-LiDAR fusion pipeline for visual object detection and distance estimation using YOLO-based models. For connectivity, we develop a hybrid communication architecture that combines 5G cellular and Starlink LEO satellite networks. By applying supervised learning models for bandwidth and handover prediction, we achieve stable, low-latency communication essential for teleoperation and high-resolution media streaming. Our system architecture adopts a certification-oriented design, extending type-approved integrated navigation systems with autonomous modules while aligning with emerging international regulatory frameworks such as the IMO MASS Code. Together, these components enable safe, real-time decision-making and remote control in constrained and variable environments like the Kiel Fjord. The MS Wavelab serves as a scalable, modular platform to advance the state of the art in autonomous maritime systems and accelerate their real-world deployment.en1742-659620251IOP Publishinghttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Computer Science, Information and General Works::006: Special computer methodsTechnology::623: Military Engineering and Marine EngineeringTechnology::629: Other Branches::629.8: Control and Feedback Control SystemsJournal Articlehttps://doi.org/10.15480/882.1617510.1088/1742-6596/3123/1/01202110.15480/882.16175Journal Article