Roboat is a research project for Amsterdam. It’s a research collaboration between MIT and AMS, the goal here is to design and develop world’s first fleet of autonomous boats. We’re going to have self-driving cars, why not self-driving boats to help reducing complex urban problems. Each roboat (a water-based unit) can be used for transporting goods or people, as a single unit, it functions as a temporary floating infrastructure. When these roboats are combined together, they can act as self-assembling bridges or maybe concert stages.

Through the use of environmental sensors, Roboats can also monitor the city’s water condition. They can provide vital insights on urban and human health. The city of Amsterdam is the ideal place to test this project, with more than 1,000 km of canals, 1,500 bridges, and of course urban innovation.