Drones as an extended eye
The Plimsoll, or load line mark, shows a freighter’ s draught. Painted on the freeboard near the waterline, these marks provide vital information for harbor and ship personnel, such as load levels and balance, all of which are necessary for safe vessel navigation. Reading the depth can be risky and difficult because of darkness, waves, or poor visibility in bad weather. Using low-flying drones to read the load line mark visually offers a safer, more cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution.
Cargo Ship Draught
The case study has developed a multirotor drone solution equipped with extensive lighting and a camera for measurement, along with path-planning and collision-avoidance features to handle challenges in unrestricted airspace, such as mooring lines and electrical cables. The concept has been demonstrated in a lab environment.