How Roboat is steering a new future in waterborne transportation

Smarter boats make smarter cities

As cities face increasing demand in the public transport and logistics infrastructure expansion, Roboat’s mission is to unlock the full potential of inland waterways to facilitate this challenge through their automated software that can be installed on existing, and newly built vessels. 

Starting as a project through a collaboration between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS Institute), Roboat has now made the impressive move to become a startup and combines years of research with real-world testing on Amsterdam’s iconic canals. 

For CEO Ynse Deinema, the journey to Roboat is both professional and personal.

That early fascination stayed with him through his career. Deinema joined Roboat in 2019, having previously worked at TU Delft in the field of robotics. When working in Delft, Deinema heard of the Roboat project in Amsterdam, and things instantly clicked: “I love boats, I like robotics and innovation projects and I thought, that’s me!”

Now leading the team, Deinema is helping steer Roboat into its next phase. One focused on real-world application and impact.  

Solutions for future-ready cities

Launched in 2015, Roboat has quickly evolved from an academic research project into a startup that incorporated in 2024. Originally focused on solving urban challenges and the ambitious goal of building autonomous vessels, Roboat successfully demoed two in 2021, catching the global interests of cities like London and Venice. 

As Roboat transitioned from academic project to startup, Deinema highlights a focus shift to scalable market-ready solutions. Instead of focusing on building autonomous boats, Roboat has innovated retrofit hard- and software to enhance existing vessels with automated and semi-automated capabilities. 

A platform for the future

With a host of different vessels navigating inland waterways across the Netherlands and Europe – it’s crucial that Roboat’s technology works on all types of ships. Roboat’s system is built to help vessel operators navigate complex environments safely and efficiently. Features like Sailing Assist provide real-time overview about nearby obstacles and other vessels, offering improved safety, especially in low-visibility, high-stress situations. 

This work is particularly relevant in cities like Amsterdam, where ferries are a vital part of daily transport, carrying up to 70,000 passengers a day. Roboat’s technology aims to support skippers in this crucial work to make their work easier, safer and more efficient. 

The growing demand for sustainable transport and a shortage of skilled workers makes Roboat’s solutions a timely advantage. Roboat’s latest partnership with GVB Ferries will see its software assist skippers on Amsterdam’s busy ferry network, using data-driven insights to boost efficiency. The focus: safer, more comfortable, and cost-effective operations. Innovations the company will showcase at the Autonomous Ship Expo at RAI Amsterdam later this year.

Amsterdam: where innovation floats

Roboat’s story is a testament to Amsterdam’s role as a magnet for pioneering ideas. With its unique mix of historical innovation and modern outlook, the city provides fertile ground for robotics, AI, and sustainability to interact seamlessly with one another. When it comes to technologically experimenting in the outside world, there is no better place than Amsterdam. 

The city’s Living Lab at Marineterrein, a dynamic testing ground, allows companies to experiment with new ideas in a real-world urban setting. An essential resource for a robotics company like Roboat. 

And it’s not just the collaborative spaces that Amsterdam provides, but the presence of diverse talent from around the world. Roboat has 12 full time employees from across the globe, coming together with their expertise to bring Roboat’s software to as many urban waterways as possible.

Deinema explains that having an international and diverse team was important to Roboat as it allows them to be more resilient when it comes to problem-solving in their industry. 

The future is autonomous

As the conversation comes to an end, it’s clear that the next phase of Roboat’s journey is expansion, with the goal that in 5 year’s time they will be the number one provider of automated navigation technology in Europe’s inland shipping market. 

Born on Amsterdam’s waterways, Roboat’s commitment to reinventing the waterways through their expertise in robotics is evident in each of the steps that they take – not only for shipping companies and skippers but also for the future of the planet.