Full concentration was required when navigating an inland vessel in the 360° simulator at the Experimental and Control Center for Autonomous Inland Shipping (VeLABi). As part of an excursion to the Development Centre for Ship Technology and Transport Systems (DST) in Duisburg, 20 students from the Faculty of Computer Science gained fascinating insights into the practical challenges and opportunities of autonomous navigation.

The group was accompanied by mentoring coordinator Dr. Thorsten Kimmeskamp, who organized the visit to the development center in Duisburg. During the excursion, it became clear how highly relevant nearly all research areas pursued within the Faculty of Computer Science are to DST’s projects—from human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence, computer networks, simulation, and reliability engineering to cybersecurity.

The guided tour of the facility left a lasting impression. Students were highly impressed by the expertise of the DST team and the wide range of opportunities available to them “right on their doorstep.”

Another highlight of the excursion was the prospect that a small team of our students may participate this semester in the Njord Autonomous Ship Challenge, whose final round will take place at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway. This would provide a unique opportunity to apply knowledge gained during their studies in a highly relevant and cutting-edge field.

Such excursions are a key component of the mentoring program, regularly offering students valuable insights into both research and professional practice. They demonstrate the opportunities that can arise through engagement and networking even during one's studies.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Frédéric Kracht from DST for providing this insightful and inspiring experience.