Autonomous ferry trials started in Trondheim channel

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) started operations of the autonomous ferry milliAmpere 2 in Trondheim Channel. The ferry works as shuttle in Ravnkloa until mid-October and is available for public during these three weeks.

“This is the first step towards a new form of micromobility in cities with urban waterways. These ferries will be significantly cheaper to operate than staffed ferries and can be more easily deployed on multiple routes as necessary. In the long term, the ferries may make it more attractive to live in the district, particularly for young people who want access to better mobility options,” says Morten Breivik, an associate professor at NTNU’s Department of Engineering Cybernetics.

The ferry was developed by Department of Marine Technology (IMT) – NTNU and Department of Engineering Cybernetics at NTNU together with NTNU spin-off company Zeabuz, which aim is to commercialize maritime autonomy technology for small urban ferries. According to NTNU at least 10 professors, 15 PhD-candidates, 2 post docs and about 50 master students and 20 bachelor students, as well as five from NTNUs technical staff has been involved in making this ferry.

NTNU in Trondheim has a complete infrastructure for research, development and innovation in place for an autonomous passenger ferry that is unique in the world. The infrastructure consists of:
the two test ferries milliAmpere 1 and 2
a control room in Trondheim Maritime Centre at Nyhavna
a digital twin (Gemini) to test operation of the ferries digitally and virtually
a hybrid lab (MRlab) where both physical components and virtual reality enable quick testing of the physical design of the ferries in a combined physical-virtual world.

The ferry is monitored using Marine Technologies’ Maritime Communication solution C-Link, as well as 4G / 5G. If desired, the ferry can be overridden from the control room on land.
For this project Marine Technologies also supplied control systems including propeller control, dynamic positioning and auto sail.

Source: Norwegian SciTech News, Marine Technologies