BT has completed an automated drone trial at ABP\u2019s Port of Southampton in partnership with ABP and RoboK. The trial demonstrated a drone flying over the port\u2019s vehicle inventory lot, with images captured and fed into an artificial intelligence (AI) powered system to track and analyse vehicles.<\/p>\n
\u201cDrone technology can deliver vastly improved services to businesses and the public and even more so when dovetailed with automation capability,\u201d said Dave Pankhurst, head of drones solutions at BT\u2019s Enterprise unit. \u201cOur trial demonstrates how drone technology – underpinned by BT\u2019s network – can lead to meaningful innovation to transform business operations. For ABP, it can fast track new levels of digital transformation across their UK ports \u2013 saving costs, boosting efficiency and improving safety.\u201d<\/p>\n
Better inventory management<\/strong><\/p>\n Unlike traditional drones, DIAB systems deploy autonomously from a box that also functions as a landing pad and charging base. After carrying out their instructions, these drones return to their \u201cbase\u201d to charge and upload information. DIAB solutions can better manage port inventory, address port-wide health and safety monitoring, optimise site management, support search and rescue missions, and improve maritime control.<\/p>\n Through its long-term partnership with ABP, BT has used drone technology to trial a fully automated process to identify, track and analyse the number of vehicles across the port at any given time. This is key for ABP\u2019s business to allow for accurate billing, better management of operational costs and insight-led decision making for the port\u2019s management team. As part of the trial, BT partnered with RoboK, a Cambridge based start-up specialising in efficient 3D computer vision. RoboK\u2019s use of innovative AI technology was able to detect, track and count vehicles in real time, captured from the drone footage.<\/p>\n In July 2021, BT and ABP deployed next generation IoT and sensor technology at the Port of Ipswich to speed up the movement and processing of cargo goods, digitising the port\u2019s logistics and operations processes.<\/p>\n