Autonomous electric boats will soon be cruising Amsterdam’s canals

The Roboat project could be used for waterway taxi services. — AFP Relaxnews

Small autonomous shuttles could soon appear on the famous canals of Amsterdam. Tests are currently underway to optimise their operation and find new uses for them, in addition to transporting people or goods.

Roboat is a collaboration between the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The idea is to develop the world’s first fleet of autonomous water vessels to serve a city, in this case Amsterdam.