DemoBin - Virtual and physical demonstrators for the automation and remote control of inland waterway transport
Motivation und Herausforderung
Automation is considered a key strategy for making inland waterway transport more attractive to the next generation of maritime professionals, for reducing costs, and thus for strengthening the competitiveness of this mode of transport.
To date, various automation functionalities have been investigated primarily using commercial cargo ships as test beds. However, since these ships are generally in commercial service, the time available for research and development is severely limited.
The now-available virtual test bed VERA and the real-world test platforms ELLA and NOVA, which are operated by the research partners themselves and are fully available for research, allow for the efficient development and testing of automation components and the risk-free conduct of safety-critical investigations.
However, transferring automation functions tested in simulations to real ships remains a challenge. There is a lack of reference datasets that would enable 1:1 validation of all models (maneuvering behavior, sensors), meaning that the existing models are only good approximations. When models and simulations are developed hand-in-hand with a demonstrator, validation in the real system takes place automatically. This also opens up the possibility, in the next step, of systematically certifying automation systems in a virtual environment.
Project objective
The overarching goal of this project is to further develop remote-controlled and automated navigation so that automated operations can be conducted with the same or higher level of safety as conventionally controlled vessels.
For development, testing, and validation, the VERA digital test bed and the BAW simulator will be further developed, and the ELLA and NOVA development platforms will be utilized, enabling high efficiency and significant leverage with limited resources.
Specifically, the following sub-goals are being pursued:
• Generation of reference datasets for the development of automation and assistance systems;
• Further development of modeling approaches for maneuvering and the VERA virtual test bed with a concrete focus on commercial use;
• Further development of assistance systems for route guidance, from path planning to speed control, with a focus on adaptability and robustness;
• Integration of route guidance assistants and remote control functions into the test vessel;
• Establishment of a digital twin of the ship-waterway system as a virtual test bed for semi-autonomous inland waterway vessels; and
• Ensuring a robust ship-to-shore connection.
Approach
The strides being made in the automation of navigation and remote control of inland waterway vessels are significant. It is therefore logical and appropriate that the targeted developments be subject to high requirements in order to ensure and enhance the high safety standards of conventional inland waterway transport even in the context of automation.
However, developing such new technological approaches in practice with real vessels would involve considerable risks or be possible only to a limited extent. Therefore, an integrated approach is being pursued here, in which simulators and virtual test beds are used in combination with test vehicles in the real-world test environment. Both are being specifically further developed to enable the necessary advancements to be carried out risk-free and efficiently.
Milestones and Interim Results
A total of six key milestones will be achieved as part of the project. First, the prerequisites for data collection will be established, followed by the results of a comprehensive sensitivity analysis. Based on the aspects identified earlier, the core functionalities will undergo simulation-based validation. Subsequently, data preparation, model development, and anomaly detection will be finalized. The next step involves the complete commissioning of the simulators and test beds, including modeling and simulation. The project will conclude with the development and implementation of a certification process for autonomous assistance systems, ensuring the practical applicability and safety of the results.
Outlook
From a regulatory perspective, DemoBin is developing a verified and systematic approach for testing, certifying, and approving assistance systems and automation functions for inland waterway vessels. By developing an innovative simulation environment, the requirements for such systems can be determined and tested with a particular focus on safety. This enables fast and efficient approval processes, allowing innovative products to be brought to market quickly.
Duration:
November 2025 – November 2028
Main topics:
Inland waterway transport, automation, digital test beds, demonstrators, safety
Funding program:
BMV / Funding Guidelines for Research and Development of Digital Test Beds on Federal Waterways (DTW III)
Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau (BAW)
Technische Universität Dortmund (TUD); Lehrstuhl für praktische Informatik
Addix GmbH (ADD)
Rheinisch-Westfälisch Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH); Institut für Regelungstechnik (IRT)
Universität Duisburg-Essen (UDE):
– Lehrstuhl für Mechatronik (IMECH)
– Institut für Nachhaltige und Autonome Maritime Systeme (INAM)
