In order to prepare for the arrival of autonomous navigation, the Port of Rotterdam Authority has converted a patrol vessel into a floating lab that collects data, including about the vessel’s operation and power.
These data will be made available to the business community and students, to allow for further research into autonomous navigation, which will also help prepare the Port of Rotterdam.
Autonomous Navigation Could Increase Safety
‘By cooperating with other parties, including by making our data available, we aim to promote the development of new technologies and investigate the impact of these on the port and port facilities. We expect the arrival of autonomous navigation to further increase the safety and accessibility of the Port of Rotterdam and, moreover, it will be an effective aid for skippers and shipping traffic controllers. That is why the Port of Rotterdam Authority aims to test this application, which has already been used in aviation for many years, together with other parties,’ stated Ronald Paul, Port of Rotterdam Authority COO.
Artificial Captain
The first partnership for data exchange from the floating lab has been signed with Captain AI. They are adding artificial intelligence to the data obtained from the floating lab, which enables computers to be trained as artificial captains to navigate independently through the port.
Floating Lab
The Port of Rotterdam Authority has equipped a former patrol vessel (the RPA 3), the so-called floating lab, with cameras, sensors and measurement equipment. In this way, data is obtained about weather and water conditions and about the vessel’s operation, power and engine.
As well as autonomous navigation, the floating lab will test other applications. The use of cameras will be tested, for example for automatic inspection of quay walls or detection of objects in the water. The combination of sensors on the water with land-based sensors to develop a network and smart infrastructure will also be investigated.
The floating lab can be viewed on 4 October during the Innovation Expo, which is being held on the RDM site.
Picture by Port of Rotterdam Authority.
