divider

AutoBin and DeConTrans now become AUTOFLEX

DST investigates logistics concepts with small automated inland vessels in new Horizon Europe research project.

The AUTOFLEX consortium gathered for the kick-off event in Brussels, Belgium, in January 2024. (Photo: Fraunhofer)

On 16 and 17 January 2024, the consortium of the newly started Horizon Europe research project AUTOFLEX (AUTOnomous small and FLEXible vessels) came together for the kick-off event in Brussels, Belgium. In the presence of representatives of the European Commission and the Executive Agency CINEA, all consortium partners presented their respective profiles as well as their own research tasks and objectives in the project before the consortium focused on the various work streams and their interdependencies among one another.
DST is playing a leading role in the design and development of small automated inland vessels, which will be investigated using the DST test facilities and the Test and Control Center Autonomous Inland Navigation (VeLABi) at a later stage, and is also involved in the logistics concept, the design of modern handling solutions, and the development of suitable business models.

Dr. Igor Bačkalov, head of the work package, presented the planned work on the vessel design and development. (Photo: DST)

The specific overall and sub-objectives of the project were discussed in the group. (Photo: DST)

The research work in the AUTOFLEX project also foots on findings and results from the completed research projects AutoBin and DeConTrans, both of which were funded under the EFRE.NRW funding program in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The AutoBin research project demonstrated the feasibility of automated navigation on inland waterways, while the DeConTrans project yielded a logistics concept for regional transportation using small inland vessels.
AUTOFLEX has a project volume of almost 4.5 million euros and a duration of three years, during which the nine European consortium partners will work on the various solutions and eventually present the results for demonstration purposes.

The AUTOFLEX project receives funding from Horizon Europe, the European Union’s key funding programme for research and innovation, under grant agreement No 101136257.