Roboat

Roboat is a research program on autonomous boats in Amsterdam. The program was scheduled to last from 2016-2021, is developing the world's first fleet of autonomous vessels. It focuses on moving people and goods, portable infrastructure and data gathering. Roboat is a project of the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions. The research within the program is conducted by MIT, Delft University of Technology and Wageningen University and Research. The program has a budget of €25 million. Prototypes are tested in Amsterdam's canals.

History

On 5 October 2018 a shuttle was tested, using 6-person autonomous boats following a circular route linking Oosterdokskade with the science centre, a crossing where building a fixed bridge is impossible as it is a through route for high-masted ships.
In 2019, the vessels learned how to dock together and organizing to support specific tasks.
In 2020, the first passenger-capable configuration was completed. Roboat III is long and can carry and adapt to up to 5 passengers.
Two full-scale units had been deployed by October 2021, becoming the world's first urban autonomous vessels.