Test and develop autonomous maritime systems

At Blue Valley Ostend, you will find everything you need to develop and test marine robotics and drones. Research, assembly, training and operational tests take place here right by the sea, port and airspace.

Flanders Marine Institute - Marine Robotics Centre (MRC)

Resources: Open Innovation Space, marine robotics lab with drones (USV, AUV and gliders), imaging labs, DNA labs, and acoustic infrastructure applications:

• Marine robotics and autonomous systems
• Underwater imaging and habitat mapping
• Acoustics and underwater communication
• Genetic analysis and biodiversity monitoring
• Offshore engineering and data acquisition
  
  

Highlight: research ships Simon Stevin and Zeekat for real-time data acquisition

Location: Visserijdok, Slipwaykaai 2-4, 8400 Ostend

Drone Dock

Resources: Belgium’s largest drone cage (15 m x 30 m x 18 m), realistic test environment for multi-rotor drones, suitable for BVLOS flights Applications:

• Offshore inspections
• Safety tests and training courses
• Autonomous drone systems

Highlight: indoor testing space suitable for prototypes and Drone-in-a-Box solutions, in preparation: wind and rain simulation

Location: Nieuwpoortsesteenweg 945c, 8400 Ostend (next to VLOC)

Exail Robotics Belgium

Resources: drone factory for the assembly and testing of underwater drones and unmanned surface vessels (USVs). Applications:

• Underwater robotics
• Mine countermeasures
• Offshore inspections and research
• Unmanned surface vessels and autonomous underwater vessels, USVs and AUVs for civil and defence applications

Highlight: production platform for SeaScan and K-Ster C and integration for defence applications in collaboration with the Navy Academy

Location: Sloepenstraat 9, 8400 Ostend

Droprise

Resources: Drone-in-a-Box systems (DIAB), technical integration and operational and regulatory support Applications:

• Autonomous inspection flights (infrastructure, offshore facilities)
• Environmental monitoring

Highlight: DJI Dock system for automatic flying, returning and charging, weatherproof and suitable for offshore use

Location: Bluebridge Incubation and Innovation Centre, Ostend Science Park, Wetenschapspark 1, 8400 Ostend

Cspect – Offshore Inspection & Robotics

Resources: Offshore inspection services, ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles), sensor technology, data acquisition platforms

Applications:

• Underwater inspection and maintenance of offshore facilities
• Marine robotics and autonomous systems
• 3-D visualisation and structural analysis
• Data acquisition for asset integrity

Highlight: Expertise in sub-sea inspections and integration of sensors for real-time monitoring

Location: Oudenburgsesteenweg 31, PB C4k, 8400 Ostend

GEOxyz – Hydrographic & Geophysical Surveying

Resources: Survey vessels, AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles), USVs (Unmanned Surface Vehicles), geophysical and bathymetric measuring equipment

Applications:

• Hydrographic and geophysical surveys
• Habitat mapping and underwater imaging
• Offshore engineering and cable tracing
• Data analysis and modelling

Highlight: Own fleet of survey ships and autonomous systems for large-scale marine data acquisition

Location: Sloepenstraat 3, 8400 Ostend

Belgian Navy Academy (NAC)

Resources: training facilities for the operational use of marine drones and simulation systems for mine countermeasures Applications:

• Mine countermeasures
• Robotics for underwater and surface drone operations
• Tactical marine scenarios

Highlight: Collaboration with Exail and Flanders Marine Institute for shared use of testing infrastructure

Location: Bootsman Jonsen Barracks, Ostend