Context
Autonomous Mobile Robotics for Port Security and Surveillance
Port environments are typically large, dynamic areas with a high level of activity 24 hours a day. In addition, ports are also a critical hub in the global supply chain, handling a constant flow of goods and people. This makes them particularly vulnerable to different threats and risks. Therefore, the constant control needs present a series of challenges that require efficient protocols and demand hybrid surveillance models of collaboration between people and technological systems.
Robotnik’s RB-WATCHER has already been successfully tested in the port of Alicante to execute surveillance missions and interact with control centres. After the optimal results of a first phase of testing typical of an industrial implementation, the objective is to consolidate the solution in order to implement it in the coming months in other ports in Spain.
This use case is part of Cybercop, a project run by the company Actisa and financed by Ports 4.0, whose purpose is to increase the security levels of ports through security and surveillance robotics
Robotnik's robotics solution
RB-WATCHER emerges in this context as an innovative and capable solution to address surveillance and security challenges, offering significant advantages in terms of efficiency, accuracy and cost-effectiveness. The mobile robot is a powerful tool to complement and extend human capabilities, providing new levels of coverage for comprehensive port monitoring.
This autonomous mobile robot accurately performs surveillance tasks ranging from patrolling a predetermined area, locating objects and people (intruders, for example), detecting fires and/or thermal anomalies, or collecting quality data. All this information is processed by the robot and sent in real time to the port control centre for decision making. Equipped with advanced sensors, cameras and artificial intelligence algorithms, it can patrol large areas and detect threats in real time.
Challenges
This RB-WATCHER includes 4WD traction to move over any type of terrain, including irregular or rough terrain, so frequent in port environments such as docks, slopes or sandy soils. In addition, it integrates advanced sensors and components, including:
- 360º lidar for a complete mapping of the environment creating detailed and three-dimensional maps, comprehensive perception and, therefore, safer navigation, even in adverse environmental conditions of low light or visibility, such as fog or night.
- Artificial vision and Deep Learning systems that allow the robot to detect, analyse and classify elements or individuals.
- RTK technology that improves GPS accuracy in robot positioning with a centimetre margin and minimises positioning errors that could cause collisions.
- 4G connectivity for efficient transmission of data, videos or images, which are communicated in real time to the control centre. 4G connectivity also facilitates remote control and monitoring of the RB-WATCHER and provides extra communication reliability enabling stable interventions.
- RGBD cameras on the front and rear of the robot that combine colour and depth data improving the detection and classification of objects or people, providing a 360º three-dimensional view of the environment.