Pontoon Boat System for Disaster Response Unveiled

The pontoon boat system for civil defense and disaster control, developed in cooperation with SZENARIS, was recently presented in Hamburg. The multifunctional platform can be used individually as a working or transport boat or coupled as a transport platform or floating bridge. The system has a remote-controlled floating drone with on-board cameras, laser and sonar. This enables (semi-)autonomous navigation in flooded and unmapped areas.

The prototype emerged from a research initiative of the DIVERS program (“Innovation Program to Support Diversification Strategies of Defense Companies into Civil Security Technologies”) launched by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). The system was developed by a consortium consisting of General Dynamics European Land Systems – Bridge Systems GmbH (GDELS – Bridge Systems), the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), the Development Center for Ship Technology and Transport Systems e. V., SZENARIS and the Technical University of Kaiserslautern.

SZENARIS was responsible for the development of a virtual reality visualization system for prototype construction as well as a virtual reality training system so that emergency forces can be instructed in the safe use of the pontoon boat system in a competence-oriented manner.

Further information: Press release of the BMWi on the presentation of the pontoon boat system