Drift+Noise’s Journey to Pioneering Polar Navigation

In the freezing-cold expanses of the polar region, where icy waters pose challenges to humans and vessels, Drift+Noise emerges as a beacon of innovation. Established in 2014 as a spin-off company from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Bremen, Germany, Drift+Noise quickly rose to success as a reliable provider of essential sea ice information data. With a mission to bridge the gap between polar research and practical navigation needs, Drift+Noise harnesses cutting-edge technology to revolutionise the landscape of polar navigation. Supported by the ESA BIC Northern Germany, the company’s journey is characterised by pioneering spirit, unwavering dedication and the pursuit of uncovering the unknown.

Navigating the Course of Drift+Noise
The beginning of Drift+Noise traces back to the corridors of the Alfred Wegener Institute, where Dr Lasse Rabenstein and a group of scientists around him recognised the pressing need for enhanced sea ice information in polar waters. Fuelled by a shared commitment to innovation, the team of founders joined forces and established Drift+Noise. Their diverse expertise in polar research, satellite remote sensing, software development and IT entrepreneurship laid the foundation for a venture poised to revolutionise maritime operations in the polar regions.

“At Drift+Noise, our goal is to provide easily accessible navigational instruments and services… If you’re on a vessel, they have these old-style navigation screens that cost thousands of euros, but then you see the captains and they are on their phones or tablets and they’re using different weather apps and different navigation apps for additional support,” says Lasse. “We aim to leverage digital apps on smartphones or tablets to revolutionize navigation in polar regions, offering modern solutions that are easy to install and use.”

Anchored in Bremen, the aeronautics and space hub of northern Germany, Drift+Noise aims to provide timely and accurate sea ice information for stakeholders navigating polar waters. Levering innovative technologies and a deep understanding of polar dynamics, the company endeavours to empower maritime operators with actionable insights that enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

The Drift+Noise Team: Dr Lasse Rabenstein, Jakob Buenger, Hannah Jansen, Jonathan Bahlmann and Henning Weidenhöfer (f.l.t.r.). Not in the picture: Taib Hayat, Bernhard Schmitz and Joshua Dawson (© Drift+Noise).

Charting Frozen Frontiers with IcySea
At the forefront of Drift+Noise’s endeavours lies IcySea, a web-based app designed specifically to help navigate the polar regions. By harnessing satellite data, model calculations and advanced technologies, IcySea offers near real-time insights into sea ice dynamics, enabling operators to mitigate risks and optimise route planning. Lasse highlights the pivotal role of satellite connectivity in bolstering IcySea’s efficacy, “when we first started Drift+Noise, satellite communication was not as robust as it is today. This improvement has been good for us, because now everyone can use our app in remote regions like the middle of the arctic or Greenland and our app helps them safely navigate. Ice can be hazardous for vessels. For vessels without ice-class certification it can be catastrophic and every year there are many accidents involving ice. IcySea is being used to avoid those disasters.”

The web-based app provides users with comprehensive visualisations and forecasts, facilitating informed decision-making in navigating through icy waters. When users subscribe to IcySea, they not only receive an app, but they also receive the service and knowledge of the Drift+Noise team. IcySea’s features include ice concentration maps, drift forecasts, hazard alerts, workshops, online courses, and webinars about sea ice, empowering maritime operators with information they need to navigate safely and efficiently through polar regions.

Utilisation of Drift+Noise’s IcySea in the Antarctic, during an expedition with the ‘Le Commandant Charcot’, an icebreaker from Ponant (©PONANT-Emerick-Le-Mouel).

Unveiling FAST-CAST 2
One of Drift+Noise’s flagship projects is FAST-CAST 2, a research initiative funded by the mFUND Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure aimed at transforming satellite-based Earth observation (EO) and weather forecasts into route suggestions for ships navigating through ice-covered areas. Led by the Zentrum für Technomathematik (Centre for Industrial Mathematics) at the University of Bremen, in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and EOMAP GmbH & Co. KG, FAST-CAST 2 promises to revolutionise maritime operations in icy environments.

The idea, while complex, is one which would bring about significant benefits to those navigating the ever-changing landscape of the polar sea. The project partners, including Drift+Noise, aim to create a navigational tool wherein customers can type in their travel destination as well as details about the vessel used, and the app would calculate the best route for them and their vessel. “More precisely, the quickest route, when to start your journey, which direction to take, up-to-date information on weather conditions and ice. A ‘Google Maps’ for the polar frontier,” as Dr Lasse Rabenstein would have it.

Lasse underscores the challenges in creating such a tool, “It’s our shared vision, a little bit like our north star… but it’s complicated trying to calculate the best route through a field of ice, because you have to be able to calculate what will happen within the next one or two days. There is a lot of research still needed which is why we partnered up with DLR in Bremen and the Centre for Industrial Mathematics of the University of Bremen. We have also partnered with EOMAP who calculate water-depth based on satellite imagery.”

Building upon the success of its predecessor project, FAST-CAST 1, this project represents a significant leap forward in polar navigation technology. By integrating AI techniques and modern web technologies, FAST-CAST 2 strives to provide vessels with timely and accurate guidance through the challenging polar landscape.

IcySea in action in Antarctica on board “Le Commandant Charcot” (©PONANT – Nico Vincent).

Fostering Innovation with ESA BIC Northern Germany
Drift+Noise’s time with the ESA BIC Northern Germany stands as a testament to the programme’s instrumental role in fostering innovation and collaboration. During their time at ESA BIC Northern Germany, the team at Drift+Noise leveraged the expertise and resources offered by the programme to refine their business strategies and guide them towards sustainable growth and success. Lasse states, “being able to talk to consultants and experts at ESA was really helpful – it made us rethink our ideas and plans and ultimately find our own way.”

Additionally, he emphasised the inspiring collaborations and interactions with fellow startups within the ESA BIC Northern Germany network, “it was also inspiring to get into contact with the other startups and it’s really interesting to see how the other startups have also evolved and developed alongside us over the years.”

Through the incubation programme for young space startups, Drift+Noise not only gained access to essential support and mentorship, but also forged lasting partnerships that have played a pivotal role in their journey towards pioneering advancements in polar navigation.

A Polar Exploration to New Horizons
Drift+Noise’s innovative solutions have earned widespread acclaim in the maritime industry. Collaborations with renowned ice breakers like the RV Polarstern and RSV Nuyina, alongside recognition from industry experts and stakeholders, underscore the startup’s commitment to excellence. By empowering maritime operators with cutting-edge technologies and actionable insights, Drift+Noise is rewriting the rules of polar navigation, leading into a new era of safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Anchored in Bremen’s vibrant ecosystem, Drift+Noise navigates unchartered waters with confidence, leading the charge in unlocking new frontiers and shaping the future of polar navigation.

About ESA BIC Northern Germany

The Incubation Centre of the European Space Agency in Northern Germany (ESA BIC Northern Germany) is headquartered jointly with the Bremen aeronautics and space industries association at the Bremer Innovations- und Technologiezentrum BITZ as well as the Digihub Industry – two of the largest innovation and technology centres for high-tech companies and startups in the German federal state of Bremen. The ESA BIC Northern Germany brings new startup opportunities to the region and thus strengthens the aeronautics and space sector in the German federal state of Bremen. AVIASPACE BREMEN e.V. supports the incubatees with its network, public relations work, and targeted coaching not only during the incubation period, but also afterwards as alumni. STARTHAUS Bremen & Bremerhaven is the central point of contact in the Bremen startup ecosystem and supports the startups on all issues relating to business development and financing. The ESA BIC Northern Germany is managed by Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen (AZO), an international networking and branding company for the European space programmes that also manages ESA BIC Bavaria with three locations in southern Germany.

Since 2021, ESA BIC Northern Germany has also been offering its service to space-related startups in Schleswig-Holstein. The Technikzentrum Lübeck with GATEWAY49, AviaSpace Bremen and AZO jointly operate this extension of ESA BIC Northern Germany. There are also plans to extend ESA BIC Northern Germany to the northern German federal states of Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin-Brandenburg.

Technical support of the ESA BIC Northern Germany is offered by Fraunhofer IFAM, German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence DFKI, Alfred-Wegener Institute for Polar Research AWI, Bremen University, Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity ZARM, Airbus Group, ArianeGroup, AES Aircraft Elektro/Elektronik System, DSI Aerospace, and OHB.