5G Takes to the Waves with Automated Ferry in Norway

Ericsson, Telia and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have partnered to showcase 5G-enabled driverless boat. The partners have successfully demoed a small connected passenger ferry, with an AI captain, in the Norwegian fjord city of Trondheim.

The autonomous ferry, named milliAmpère, transported passengers across Trondheim’s harbor canal. Ericsson 5G technology enabled Telia to securely support the large amount of data transfers needed to support the autonomous ferry. MilliAmpère is equipped with sensors that record its surroundings and the steering system on board. This generates large amounts of data that needs to be communicated with the control center.

“Ericsson’s world leading 5G technology and its ability to upload large amounts of data in a short time was key to the success of the pilot. Ericsson’s 5G Radio and superior software enables upload speeds of more than 200Mbps and download speeds above 1Gbps,“ says Jenny Lindqvist, Head of Customer Unit Northern and Central Europe, Ericsson.

“The data is analyzed so that the vessel finds its way itself and avoids any obstacles, and at the same time the distance to the quay is measured so that the boat can safely moor itself,“ said Egil Eide, associate professor at the Department of Electronic Systems, NTNU. “In the event of a sea emergency, the vessel can also be remotely controlled from the control center at Gløshaugen via the same mobile network.“