Avikus’ autonomous boat navigates, pilots, and docks itself

Ben Stein

Ben Stein

Publisher of Panbo.com, passionate marine electronics enthusiast, 100-ton USCG master.

6 Responses

  1. Ben Ellison Ben Ellison says:

    Though I’m personally pretty skeptical about the need or desire for fully autonomous recreational boating, it may be telling that Brunswick is putting some of its massive resources into what they call an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) in partnership with Carnegie Robotics. The prototype system seems to use cameras and LIDAR in similar ways to Avikus, as suggested here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zAFNzs3cSE

    Also, I discussed ADAS in more detail at the end of this entry about Garmin and Raymarine docking cam systems:

    https://panbo.com/integrated-docking-cam-explainer-garmin-surround-view-vs-raymarine-docksense-alert/

  2. Ben Ellison Ben Ellison says:

    Speaking of advanced collision-avoidance electronics, today SEA.AI announced that half the foiling Ultim and IMOCA racers in the singlehanded Route Du Rhum transatlantic will be equipped with their masthead object-detecting camera systems (originally called OSCAR). Note the bit about eventual autopilot integration at the end of the press release:

    https://mailchi.mp/a17b5a7ce39e/taking-machine-vision-offshore

  3. Bob says:

    As a tech dude, I find this fascinating. I would imagine some parts of this technology could make it into recreational boating to the benefit of all. As a system, however, I would think this takes much of the recreation out of recreational boating.

    • Grant Jenkins says:

      Agreed. Maybe Brunswick thinks they can sell more boats by marketing them as “So easy, a caveman can do it…”, but not for me. I’ve seen too many systems that work great…. until they don’t. Then its up to the human to handle it. Oh, you’ve never learned how? Gee, that’s too bad……crunch.

  4. Robert Rice says:

    I too am skeptical about the need for and wisdom of autonomous recreational boats.

    I am however, interested in better info provided to the skipper. I think that something like the Raymarine ClearCruise AR system might represent the current sweetspot given costs and current technology.

  5. Ron O says:

    I do think that there may be a larger market for this than one might think. I can’t imagine being without my autopilot – it drives 90% of the time. This seems to be a natural step from an autopilot.

    But while I will never envision owning a boat with this technology, I sure would be glad that the boaters that have no concept of the rules of operating a vessel have and use this equipment on their boats.

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