Engineering news
Working with the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions, MIT created the first roboat prototype three years ago. Now, its 3D-printed, one-quarter scale devices can identify and automatically connect to docking stations – typically other boats.
With 165 canals covering a quarter of its surface area, Amsterdam is keen to use ‘intelligent mobility’ on the water to ease congestion and make room on the roads. A fleet of autonomous boats could transport goods and people, collect rubbish or even self-assemble into floating bridges or stages.
“In Amsterdam, canals were once used for transportation and other things the roads are now used for. Roads near canals are now very congested – and have noise and pollution – so the city wants to add more functionality back to the canals,” said Luis Mateos from the MIT Senseable City Lab. “Self-driving technologies can save time, costs and energy, and improve the city."
The future fleet would have rectangular hulls equipped with sensors, thrusters, microcontrollers, GPS modules, cameras, and other hardware.
Presented at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation, the MIT roboats use Lidar and a camera to move autonomously around canals. They can identify AprilTags, similar to QR codes, and are guided towards docking targets by control algorithms. Once in place, a laser-activated ball-and-socket locking mechanism ensures roboats stay stuck together.
The units were usually able to successfully connect in about 10 seconds, starting from around 1 metre away. If not they reportedly succeeded after a few failed attempts.
The researchers are now building full scale roboats, which should be more stable on water.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.