Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
The boat is its own captain, but still, there’s a supervisor on board
The start of this week also saw the start of what’s been described as the first self-driving ferry in the world. The boat, made by the Norwegian company Torghatten, is plying the waters between the islands of the Swedish capital Stockholm without any human help.
The autonomous tech at the heart of the Zeabuz-operated ferry, called MF Estelle, has been in development for a number of years at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, which successfully launched a ferry trial as part of its Autoferry project last year.
For the tech buffs - the autonomous catamaran ferry measures 12 x 5 metres, with enough space to carry 25 passengers (plus half a dozen bicycles) between Riddarfjärden and Södermalm in Stockholm. A 188-kWh battery bank will be charged up by a 7.7-kW solar-panel array up top and propulsion comes courtesy of an electric motor.
The essence of the boat, however, is its operating system which navigates the vessel thanks to radar, LiDAR (to keep track of and avoid objects in the water), as well as infrared and vision cameras to assist the AI-based "digital captain" in understanding what's going on around the ferry, ultrasonic sensors to facilitate automatic docking manoeuvres, and GPS for positioning.
For those who might be feeling queasy at the idea of being left on a ferry that is using a smart system to move across the sea, there is the assurance of human touch. There is a human supervisor on board, but only in case something goes unexceptionally wrong.
Still, the idea is that things will be smooth, and the company plans to use this route as a springboard to developing new autonomous ferry routes in Sweden.
However, this option will not yet be available for the upcoming European Parliament elections in June
Two years after also being the first European country to decriminalize prostitution
Silesian is spoken by about half a million people in the south of the country
However, this option will not yet be available for the upcoming European Parliament elections in June
The tool helps identify undeclared swimming pools and garden sheds
It will serve as a virtual companion to the municipal network of libraries in the country
The tests are also experimenting with a charging point that is easier to maintain
Reportedly, the aim of the local government is to curb violence and disorder among the youth
The city thinks that it’s time to update pet-related street cleanliness rules for the 21st century
The ritual is more than 1000 years old and was originally performed by the Doges
Two years after also being the first European country to decriminalize prostitution
For English speakers that would be Saint Domnius, the patron saint of the Dalmatian capital
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
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An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team