ROTTERDAM's port authority is testing the capabilities of autonomous navigation by converting a patrol vessel into a floating lab that collects data on metrics such as the vessel's operation, power and engine, as well as weather and water conditions.
Port officials will make the data available to the business community and educational bodies to facilitate further research into autonomous navigation. The first partnership for data exchange from the floating lab will be with Captain AI who is adding artificial intelligence to the data.
'In this way, we can teach computers to navigate independently through the port and we can train the first artificial captains,' said Captain AI's Vincent Wegener.
Port of Rotterdam Authority COO Ronald Paul said: '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.'
Aside from autonomous navigation, the floating lab will test other applications. The use of cameras will be tested for automatic inspection of quay walls and 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 examined.
Port officials will make the data available to the business community and educational bodies to facilitate further research into autonomous navigation. The first partnership for data exchange from the floating lab will be with Captain AI who is adding artificial intelligence to the data.
'In this way, we can teach computers to navigate independently through the port and we can train the first artificial captains,' said Captain AI's Vincent Wegener.
Port of Rotterdam Authority COO Ronald Paul said: '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.'
Aside from autonomous navigation, the floating lab will test other applications. The use of cameras will be tested for automatic inspection of quay walls and 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 examined.