Dutch drone specialist Avy teams up with Port of Rotterdam Authority. The aim is to make the port safer, smarter and faster using long-range drones. The companies already successfully carried out a pilot project. Part of the quay on the Yangtze Canal temporarily served as a drone port. This allowed Avy to demonstrate a long-range drone with drone flights over the Amalia, Ariane and Alexia ports.
Amsterdam-based Avy has now celebrated its fifth anniversary. The company is pioneering innovative aircraft technology that is fully autonomous and emission-free. During the pilot in Rotterdam, the company not only demonstrated long-range drones. It also tested the camera to keep a view of port activities and inspections of port assets, such as quay walls, of the Port of Rotterdam Authority during drone flights.
Command Centre
Part of the quay on the Yangtze Canal served as a drone port during the pilot. A construction shack acted as Command Centre and an Avy Station stood on the quay. This docking station enables autonomous operations and immediate deployment.
Live view
Port Coordination Centre at the World Port Center, a team was able to watch live drone footage. This made it possible to properly assess the added value of the drone images compared to those from fixed cameras in the port.
Sea and inland waterway inspections
The pilot focused on sea and inland waterway inspections for the Harbour Master Division. These include bunkering, water pollution, board-to-board transfer, solar/hazardous materials, shore-to-shore transfer, air pollution (smoke/soot) and shipboard repairs. For example, if a drone shows an open tank lid, it could indicate illegal degassing by ships and one can investigate what is going on.
New type of long-range drone
During the pilot, Avy deployed its new type of aerial drone. This drone can cover longer distances at higher speeds. As a result, just 2 to 3 drones are sufficient for the entire port. The drones can reach the scene very quickly in the event of an incident. This makes their deployment particularly useful for various types of work carried out by the Harbour Master’s Division: incident management, smarter patrol operations, inspection and supervision of shipping activities, port security and traffic management.
Demonstration moments
There were demonstration moments for interested guests during the pilot. Many interested parties took advantage of these: government departments, such as the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, rail and network operators, but also logistics service providers, agencies and shipping companies.
Refrigerated medical supplies
The Avy aerial drone tested is also capable of transporting refrigerated medical supplies. In future, Avy will explore and test new developments. These include, for example, the transport of parts and cargo samples, so that in future transport to ships will be possible.
Test with long-range drone in port of Rotterdam
The pilot was part of the 'Drone Port of Rotterdam' innovation programme. This tests the deployment and use of various drones. The next long-term drone operation will follow in early 2022. Over a five-month period, flights will be carried out on a weekly basis. External parties can then also submit test requests for the deployment of drones. Then, the new Avy aircraft will be deployed in combination with the Avy Docking Station. This offers an even higher degree of autonomy and this aircraft can also handle tougher weather conditions. The drone station will then be placed at the Rotterdam Pilotage on the Pistolhaven for testing, further extending the flying area. New in that operation is the joint use of the same airspace by pilotage helicopters and drones, something that should be clearly and safely regulated in the future
Source: Port of Rotterdam and Avy, Image: Avy
