AVATAR - iSCSS conference (2)

28 November 2022 - Published by Tom Pauwels

AVATAR project partners actively contributed to the iSCSS-conference in Delft (8-10/11/2022).

The AVATAR Interreg North Sea Region project was sponsor of the iSCSS-conference in Delft. AVATAR project partners actively contributed with presentations and demonstrations, as shown in the overview below.

Aim of the conference was "human machine teaming in ship control", which strives to get the best out of collaboration between the human and control systems. In AVATAR, focus is on (highly) autonomous vessels and city freight distribution.

AVATAR was co-sponsor of the event and was clearly visible during the 3-day conference. It was a good opportunity to share insights about (highly) autonomous sailing and city freight distribution.

During day 1 of the conference (8/11/2022), Matt Hepworth (TU Delft) presented the status of the vision sensor research related to AVATAR. Tom Pauwels shared project information at the AVATAR exhibition stand to interested conference partners. Interesting discussions were held with decision makers, industry and researchers.

During day 2 of the conference (9/11/2022), Vittorio Garofano (TUD) gave a presentation about obstacle avoidance and trajectory optimization for an autonomous vessel.

In the afternoon of 9/11/2022, AVATAR project partners joined the 6th project partner meeting, discussing the status and progress but also the next steps (tests and demonstrations).

TUD also organized an AVATAR demonstration event for iSCSS-conference participants on 9/11/2022. During this event, the autonomous sailing of TUD vessels was shown (see here) and also the TUD vision sensor box was demonstrated.

During the final day of the iSCSS-conference in Delft (10/11/2022), an AVATAR Interreg North Sea Region symposium has been organised.

Tom Pauwels gave an overview of the AVATAR project about last mile innovation through urban highly autonomous and zero-emission inland waterway transport solutions. It has been shown that AVATAR entails a multidisciplinary approach by focussing on engineering, economics and energy.

Osman Akin (KUL) focused on the technological developments, pilots and demonstrations (AVATAR vessel, Maverick and TUD research vessels).

Kim Van Den Berge (E. VAN WINGEN NV) highlighted the status and characteristics of the new AVATAR vessel under construction (OHB, E. VAN WINGEN NV and SEAFAR) for highly autonomous sailing. Jelle Cornelis (E. VAN WINGEN NV) described the status of the energy use case (city freight distribution vessels sailing during daytime and charging the batteries at night, using a ICE CHP running on hydrogen).

Changyuan Chen (TUD) gave more details about the development of an assessment guideline for autonomous vessels, applied to the different vessels used in the AVATAR-project.

The session has been concluded with an interesting discussion and interaction with the audience.