Department Maritime Security Technologies

In terms of sensor development, the Department of Maritime Technologies concentrates on the development, testing, validation, use and marketing of innovative optical (laser illumination, range-gating) and acoustic systems (sonar) for near-real-time assessment of the safety and security status of maritime facilities and systems. Together with sensor development, other key areas of research and development include testing under unfavourable maritime conditions at all times (24/7), as well as creating a situational awareness from the data obtained. Together with a specific concept, this makes it possible to create a situational awareness for multi-sensor data (with anticipatory analysis and recommendations for action), drawing upon methods for near-real-time conversion of the innovative sensor data into existing situational awareness systems used by official and state security forces.

The Institute’s location at the harbour in front of the Fischkai in Bremerhaven provides scope for the construction of a test platform on the roof of the building, which will allow optical processes in constant operation to be tested in the harbour basin, ranging from the immediate area up to the harbour terminal eight kilometres away, all under maritime conditions (aerosol). Several other DLR institutes, research institutions and industry partners are also involved in the testing of sensors and the measurement of atmospheric and radiation propagation under maritime conditions.

The development of optical systems is focused on the use of active imaging measurement methods (range-gating) in compact systems, as well as the establishment and further development of active illumination techniques, and the combination of these measuring processes with radar systems in airspace (oblique view and reconnaissance systems), mounted on vehicles, fixed sensor platforms (sensor masts, wind energy plants) and underwater measuring platforms (AUV with sonar and active optical camera systems). The department also has its own road vehicle with a swivelling camera and measuring system, as well as robotic measuring units for underwater operations (AUV). One example of active optical sensors is TRAGVIS, a compact system that can detect shipwrecks and debris in the vicinity of search vessels.

The development, testing and validation of the innovative sensors, which are applied in combination with different measuring units (MARLIN project), includes the development of new processes for near-real-time evaluation of the data using modern KI methods and the presentation of the results in an overall situation report. The array of new data is fused with the existing situational data (AIS, coastal radar, etc.) for this combined situation report.

External partners are working together with the Resilience of Maritime Systems Department on the interface between reporting on situational analysis and recommendations for action to devise and test innovative methods for near-real-time evaluation of complex data sets. Issues such as cybersecurity and data protection are also the focus of research when developing new procedures.