Rolls-Royce and the European Space Agency have signed a future collaborative agreement to implement space-based support for autonomous and remote control maritime navigation to promote innovation in digital logistics.

According to Rolls-Royce, the collaboration will create a joint structure in the UK Ship Intelligence Division to develop and validate new communication solutions between ship and ground systems and ship communications. In this way it will be possible to realize maritime transport autonomously.

But the real news is remote control, innovative logistics solutions, and intelligent ports and ships of the future.

The space industry has been managing assets remotely for decades. Satellite and computer technologies and software developed by the space industry “are entirely relevant to Rolls-Royce’s work in transforming remote and autonomous control vessels into reality,” the company emphasizes.

“Spatial technologies provide tangible benefits for Europe’s citizens and nations,” said Jan Wörner, General Manager at ESA. “Partnerships, like this with Rolls-Royce, underline the number one priority of the European Space Agency, taking solutions originally developed for the unique challenges of the space environment and bring them to Earth. Space 4.0 and ESA’s Satellite for the 5G Initiative make it possible and support development, validation and product and application testing in different areas of the maritime industry.”

“This partnership between the European Space Agency and Rolls-Royce will enable satellites to support ship intelligence, naval operations, navigation, logistics for cargo, maritime security, healthcare and communications for passengers and crews,” added ESA’s general manager.

Rolls-Royce and Esa intend to co-operate to exploit the power of big data: data analysis, machine learning and artificial intelligence can increase operational efficiency, reliability and security. Also sophisticated sensors will provide data for virtual reality and increased.