Raymarine and autonomous boat navigation company Avikus yesterday signed a multiyear, exclusive partnership agreement at the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show, setting in motion the development of an autonomous boat solution that Raymarine said is a world first.
“This partnership will allow us to launch the world’s first autonomous boating solution for the recreational boating market,” Raymarine senior global product manager Jamie Cox told Soundings Trade Only. “We’ve been working with the Avikus team for the last several months and expect to bring this product to market for the Fort Lauderdale boat show in October.”
The Avikus Navigation Assistant System allows a boat to recognize and assess on-water situations in real time and without human intervention through deep learning and sensor fusion algorithms. As data is processed, the system creates and maintains an optimal route for safe, autonomous navigation.
If desired, the system allows users to experience the autonomous navigation process through an augmented reality screen that indicates risk level using color informational boxes. For convenience, boaters can also control navigation from anywhere on board with a mobile device.
A Docking Assistant System allows a boat to dock itself through integrated cognitive technology. An Avikus 3-D surround view system and collision warning alarm helps users cope with situations that may occur while docking.
“Raymarine is the perfect partner for Avikus,” Avikus CEO Dohyeong Lim said in a statement. “Their technology and experience bring us the best opportunity to reach out to customers. The NeuBoat was already the most advanced autonomous leisure boat system, and with this exclusive business partnership, it will continue to be the market leader for many years to come.”
