2. How Should R&D React on Targets?
2.1 System Approach
It is natural to focus R&D activities in the field to be targeted as shown earlier, but how to is a question. Key words for effective R&D will be System/Information Technology/Simulation.
2.1.1 Variety of R&D has so far been conducted, but the aspect of System was insufficiently implemented and effort has been directed mainly toward development of elemental technology.
1) Then, system survey on logistics encompassing sea, land and air transport had better be conducted together with social scientists, with a view to propose something new as R&D themes. Logistics must be investigated in the sense of door to door transport, without confining on sea transport. But don't forget the warehouse function of ship which is usually not found on other transport means.
2) Trying to achieve too high speed at sea to get near to air transport is hazardous to environment because of higher FOC/ton-mile.
3) Cost to construct civil infrastructure such as highway must be well assessed. Civil engineering companies have larger voice to appeal to the public, at least so in Japan. As an example, north/south high speed sea transport (may be less than 40 knots to achieve comparable FOC with lorry) along Japanese Islands instead of constructing additional highway, but cross traffic on main island by highway, such idea is worthwhile to be studied to achieve society overall fuel economy, in other sense environment conservation.
2.1.2 System approach can be encouraged by challenging core themes.
1) Unmanned ship can be a break through core theme for high technology development. The effort does not necessarily opt for direct realization of unmanned ship. But variety of themes will be induced from the core theme and system approach is absolutely necessary to solve such themes. Examples of themes driven from this core theme will be; International rules and systems to protect small crafts from unmanned ships, measures to monitor and control unmanned ships, measure to cope with pirates, port and mooring systems, etc., but
