An autonomous boat could be the best mode of transport for you if you aren’t seasick.
Scientists from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory CSAIL and Senseable City Laboratory have created the final project of their self-navigating trilogy. This is a fully-autonomous, full-scale robotic boat that can be used to navigate the Amsterdam canals.
Robot” has made great strides since Robot was first prototyped in the MIT pool in late 2015. The team published their 2-meter-long, half-scale model last year. It demonstrated promising navigational skills.
Two full-scale Robots were built this year. They proved more than just proof of concept. This craft can carry up to five people, collect trash, deliver goods, or provide infrastructure on demand.
It looks futuristic. The boat combines black and grey with two seats facing each other. There are also orange block letters that indicate the names of the makers. The ship is fully electric and has a small battery, lasting up to 10 hours. It also has wireless charging capabilities.
“We now have greater precision and robustness regarding the perception, navigation, and control systems. This includes new functions such as a close-proximity mode for latching capabilities and dynamic positioning so that the boat can navigate real-world waters,” says Daniela Rus (MIT professor of electrical engineering and computer science director of CSAIL. “Robot’s control systems are adaptive to the number and size of the people inside the boat.
Roboat is a combination of navigation, perception, and control software that allows you to navigate quickly through the busy streets of Amsterdam.
The boat uses GPS to determine a safe route to A and B. It continuously scans the environment for objects to avoid collisions.
Roboat uses lidar to find a path and avoid hitting objects autonomously. This “perception kit” is a Robot’s set of sensors that allows him to see the surrounding environment. The algorithm detects an unidentified object, such as a canoe, and flags it as “unknown.” Later, when the data is analyzed, the thing can be manually selected and tagged “canoe.”
The control algorithms, similar to those used in self-driving cars, function in a way that a coxswain gives orders to rowers. They translate a path into directions toward the thrusters. These propellers help the boat move.
The boat’s latching mechanism, which is small and discreet, gives the impression that it is futuristic. It guides the ship to docking stations or other vessels when it detects specific QR codes. “The system allows Roboat to connect to other boats and to the docking stations to form temporary bridges to relieve traffic as well as floating stages and squares, which weren’t possible with previous iterations,” Carlo Ratti (professor of the practice at the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning, DUSP), director of the Senseable City Lab.
Roboat is versatile by design. The team designed a universal “hull” design that allows the boat to ride in the water and on top. Robot’s hull design is universal. The base remains the same, but the top decks are customizable depending on the application.
The Robot can perform its duties 24/7 and without the assistance of a skipper, which adds tremendous value to a city. Fabio Duarte is a principal researcher at DUSP and the lead scientist for this project. “But, it is unclear if level A autonomy would be desirable.” An onshore operator can monitor Roboat remotely via a control center, just like a bridge keeper. One operator can oversee 50 Roboat units. This ensures smooth operation.
Robots’ next step is to make the technology available for public use. Stephan van Dijk is the director of innovation at AMS Institute. He says that the historical center of Amsterdam is the ideal place to begin due to its capillary network canals, facing modern challenges like mobility and logistics.
Roboat has been shown at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation in previous iterations. On October 28, the boats will be revealed in Amsterdam.
Ratti, Rus, and Duarte worked alongside Andrew Whittle (MIT’s Edmund K Turner professor in civil and environmental engineering), Dennis Frenchman (MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning), and Ynse Deinema of AMS Institute. Robot’s website contains the complete team. This project is a collaboration with AMS Institute. The City of Amsterdam is a partner in the project.