L3Harris demonstrates drone surveys at Port of Hamburg

US-based L3Harris Unmanned Maritime Systems, in cooperation with the Hamburg Port Authority, MacArtney Germany, and HafenCity University, has begun conducting a series of demonstrations wherein two of its autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) are being used to perform hydrographic surveys of the Port of Hamburg.

A C-Worker 5 five-metre-long ASV equipped with multibeam echosounder and lidar and a C-Cat 3 three-metre-long ASV are being used to map the port’s seabed, measure its topography, and scan the harbour walls and surrounding features.

Due to safety concerns, the ASVs are initially being controlled by human operators from a designated shore station. Fully autonomous operations of the ASVs are expected to commence at a later date.