Ticking all the boxes: electric, autonomous, aquatic, transformable, recyclable and self-assembling

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have presented a concept for what could be the ultimate in smart, eco-friendly futuristic logistics: autonomous, electric, 3D-printed boats that can even self-assemble into other floating structures.

According to an article posted on the MIT news website on 23 May: “Researchers from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and the Senseable City Lab in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP), have taken a step toward that future by designing a fleet of autonomous boats that offer high maneuverability and precise control. The boats can also be rapidly 3-D printed using a low-cost printer, making mass manufacturing more feasible.

“The boats could be used to taxi people around and to deliver goods, easing street traffic. In the future, the researchers also envision the driverless boats being adapted to perform city services overnight, instead of during busy daylight hours, further reducing congestion on both roads and canals.”

The article added: “The boats — rectangular 4-by-2-meter hulls equipped with sensors, microcontrollers, GPS modules, and other hardware — could be programmed to self-assemble into floating bridges, concert stages, platforms for food markets, and other structures in a matter of hours.”

As the article pointed out, the concept would be best suited to cities such as Amsterdam, Venice and Bangkok which have navigable canals and/or rivers.

CSAIL Director Daniela Rus has co-authored a paper on this technology which is being presented at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation taking place in Brisbane, Australia this week.

The MIT researchers have also worked with Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS) on the “Roboat” project, which tested how a prototype autonomous boat could navigate the city’s canal network.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Penske Truck Leasing joins CharIN

Image
Pennsylvania-based Penske Truck Leasing has joined the Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN). CharIN aims to promote the Combined Charging System (CCS) as the global standard for charging electric vehicles (EVs) of all types.  In a statement issued on Monday (13 August), Penske said it will take part in the group's "High Power Charging for Commercial Vehicles Task Force" (HPCCV Task Force). Penske Truck Leasing is the first in its industry to join the CharIN organization. "As a leading services provider to commercial fleets, we feel standardization around electric vehicle charging and charging stations will help accelerate the use of electric vehicles within the transportation industry," said Brian Hard, President and CEO of Penske Truck Leasing. "The interoperability of vehicle charging stations over the road is essential for commercial fleet uptime, efficiency, maintenance, and general ease of use for the industry." Penske Truck Leasing ...
Read more

EUROPE: All-electric ferry service set to launch in Gothenburg

Image
An all-electric ferry service, powered by a Volvo Penta system, is set to be launched in Gothenburg as part of the ElectriCity project.  Gothenburg’s ElectriCity partnership is a collaboration between industry, academia and local government.to test sustainable transportation systems.  Volvo Penta’s sister company Volvo Buses has already supplied electric buses for the project. The new electric-powered ferry will link both sides of the Göta River. In a statement issued on Friday (1 February) , Volva Penta said: ‘While Gothenburg’s waterways already feature ferries powered by electricity, in the form of diesel-electric engines, these operate on short routes across the river. ElectriCity’s Volvo Penta-powered electric vessel, meanwhile, will be the first fully-electric ferry in the city able to complete longer, multi-stop routes along the river, and ultimately incorporate quick charging capabilities.’ The Älvsnabben 4 will be converted into the all-electric drive by...
Read more

Electric Marvel

Image
UPS has announced it will be working with Thor Trucks to develop and test a fully-electric class 6 delivery truck in Los Angeles, California. In a statement issued yesterday (31 July), UPS said that the truck has a driving range around 100 miles (which should be sufficient for urban deliveries) and is expected to be ready for deployment later this year. As a class 6, the truck is a "medium-duty" delivery vehicle. UPS will be putting the Thor truck through its paces for about six months and, d epending on the success of the deployment, the delivery company says it "may make additional purchases of the electric vehicle". Carlton Rose, president, global fleet maintenance and engineering for UPS, commented:  “UPS believes in the future of commercial electric vehicles. We want to support the research needed to make advances and the companies developing those innovative products. “Performance is critical in our fleet. We are excited to get this v...
Read more