In order to maintain safety in the complex port environment, Port of Antwerp is deploying an autonomous drone for the first time.
The fully autonomous drone will be testing various use cases in the field of inspection and control. This is part of the short-term ambition to support the port authority in its core tasks by means of a network of autonomous drones. These initial tests are the result of the 'Port of the Future' platform, made available by Port of Antwerp, to roll out new innovations in the port environment.
Fully independent
The port of Antwerp covers more than 120 km² and is part of Belgium's 'critical' infrastructure. The use of drones can make a significant contribution to overall safety in this complex environment. After all, drones afford a unique bird's eye view, enabling port authorities to manage, inspect and supervise a large area quickly and safely. This week, for the first time, an autonomous drone developed in collaboration with the company DroneMatrix will be deployed. The drone departs from a fixed operating base near Kieldrecht Lock and follows a fixed route in the port. In addition, the drone can also fly on demand, for example in emergencies where an overview of the situation is critical. The drone operates completely independently and charges itself through an intelligent docking station that is centrally managed from a web platform.
Use cases
The drone will test out various use cases, such as infrastructure inspection, surveillance and monitoring, incident management, berth management and oil spill or drift waste detection. The objective is to test the various applications in a realistic and complex environment (Seveso companies, wind turbines, high voltage, etc.) so that they can support the Harbour Safety & Security (HSS) department in the future. Several tests with other autonomous systems will follow over the course of 2021, in preparation of an operational network of autonomous drones ready to be deployed in 2022.