Start-up for ocean route planning enters ESA’s Business Incubation Centre (BIC)
Darmstadt, 27 November 2017 – Start-up Aquaplot has been a member of the incubator programme of the European Space Agency (ESA) since September 2017. The programme supports start-ups in the transfer of space technology to the commercial non-space sector. Aquaplot uses satellite position and earth observation data for a prognosis of fleet movements at sea and the optimisation of the maritime supply chain.
“The incubator programme supports us during the development of our platform. So far, our clients are using the Aquaplot platform for order calculation, monitoring of ships or business intelligence applications amongst other things. Using the satellite data, we will be able to take into account dynamic influences like wind and currents and can thus offer an even more precise real-time image and realistic prognosis for our clients,” says Henning Grimm, CEO of Aquaplot
Aquaplot uses nature-inspired artificial intelligence for its software. “This includes particle swarm optimisation and evolutionary algorithms that are merged in a network. We achieve positive effects, which can for example also be seen in an experienced team that divides their labour and has effective consultations. This is a unique approach and it allows us to plan routes in real-time without the need to consult historic data. Furthermore, new possibilities for simulations and scenario analyses arise,” Grimm adds. The start-up has already applied for a European patent for its route planning software.
For the further development of this innovative technology, Aquaplot receives a funding of 50,000 Euros. One half is paid by ESA and the other by the State of Hesse. The start-up also receives advice from ESA experts, will be part of a network of companies and investors and participate at events and networking evenings. The ESA Business Incubation Centre in Darmstadt (ESA BIC Darmstadt), Germany, was founded in 2007 and is managed by the Centre of Satellite Navigation Hesse (cesah).
About Aquaplot:
Aquaplot was founded 2015 in Karlsruhe, Germany. The company develops web-based technologies for maritime route planning. In addition, the company supports other innovators in this area with app-components like user interface modules and offers data and information services via an application programming interface (API). Since September 2017, the start-up has been located at the Centre of Satellite Navigation Hesse in Darmstadt.