The gradual introduction of autonomous driving in inland navigation is likely to take a long time. Initially, human guidance will still be necessary on a temporary and context-specific basis, but it will also serve as a fallback level in the long term. Mixed traffic with conventional and autonomous vessels of different autonomy levels requires generic guidelines due to the high complexity and technical uncertainties. The main objective of SAFEBin is to adapt the regulations for the safe operation of remotely operated or automated inland vessels. The risks of increasing automation will be identified and evaluated, methods for risk assessment will be developed and proposals for adaptation of the regulations will be elaborated. The project creates a framework for technical regulations and promotes incentives for the commercial development of technical systems, with SAFEBin making a decisive contribution in the context of automated navigation.

Project duration:

             11/2022 – 01/2025

Website of the project:

SAFEBin project description

Project supervisors at the Chair of Mechatronics:

• Frederic Kracht
• Magnus Liebherr
• Marvin Glomsda
• Eva Spachtholz
• Max Hohn

Participating chairs/departments at UDE:

• Chair of Mechatronics (Prof. Schramm)
• Institute for Ship Technology, Ocean Engineering and Transport Systems (Prof. El Moctar)
• Chair of Dynamics and Control (Prof. Söffker)

Further project partners:

• DST - Development Centre for Ship Technology and Transport Systems
• Institute of Automatic Control (RWTH Aachen)

Belongs to profile focus of the Faculty of Engineering at UDE:

• Smart Engineering
• Human-Centered Cyber-Physical Systems

Link to Faculty (profile focus): www.uni-due.de/iw/de/forschung/psp