The ultimate goal of the project is to develop an autonomous electric vessel—also known as a “pod boat”—conceptualized by the startup Cstrider. Together with Cstrider, Affärsverken Karlskrona, and Actrify, BTH is currently working on the feasibility study, which is supported by the Swedish Energy Agency. Larsson explains that the study aims to explore how waterborne public transport can relieve and optimize transportation in Karlskrona—a coastal city where waterways can offer shorter and more environmentally friendly travel routes compared to car traffic. He emphasizes that Karlskrona’s geographical location is ideal for the project.
“In a setting like Karlskrona, it can be 40 kilometers by car from point A to B – but only five kilometers as the crow flies. That’s when you realize this is the perfect place for it.”
Digital Twins
The project, which began in April 2024 and is set to conclude in March 2025, starts with a needs analysis to identify the problems and challenges the new technology can address. Affärsverken is contributing data on current travel patterns, while Cstrider and BTH are conducting scenario planning. BTH will then build on its expertise to use digital simulation in optimizing the design and operation of the pod boat. Larsson explains that the use of so-called digital twins and simulations makes it possible to quickly and efficiently test different strategies without the need for time-consuming physical trials.
“In a simulated digital environment, you can examine scenarios much more efficiently instead of physically traveling back and forth by boat. With these digital simulations, you can cover a thousand routes in a millisecond,” explains Larsson.
Strengths and Challenges
Karlskrona’s unique conditions make the city an ideal testbed for this project. It offers both challenges and opportunities for waterborne public transport. However, some of the challenges lie at the national level, such as legislation surrounding autonomous shipping.
Still, with Karlskrona’s strong ecosystem of marine-focused industries and BTH’s broad expertise in areas such as maritime technology, industrial economics, and digital simulation, Larsson remains optimistic about the project’s progress.
“This project is a perfect match for BTH’s strengths,” says Larsson.
Forward Momentum
“Of course, there’s a dual-use perspective in this,” says Larsson.
The project has the potential to address more than just passenger transport, he explains, mentioning areas of application such as logistics for the armed forces or other operations that require moving equipment across the water.
David Appelberg, Innovation Lead at the Marine Technology Center, emphasizes that the project represents something greater than just the final product. It reinforces Karlskrona’s overall spirit of progress.
“With this project, we are doing more than developing the infrastructure of the future in Karlskrona. We are once again confirming that Karlskrona is a leading hub for maritime innovation and sustainability. At the Marine Technology Center of Sweden, we look forward to following the progress and contributing to a greener and more efficient future.”
