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In an increasingly automated world, can boating be outdone? Borrowing technologies and know-how from the automotive industry, where autonomous driving is now a reality, boating is also accelerating on navigational assistance. Intuitiveness and ease of use are an imperative demand from boat owners, especially when it involves delicate maneuvers. But Simrad AutoCaptain seems to promise more than the mooring aid systems already seen: is the boat that will sail itself coming?
Simrad, a brand belonging to the U.S. giant Brunswick Corporation, which includes Mercury and Boston Whaler, among others, announces the launch of the Simrad AutoCaptain autonomous navigation system. The system introduces full auto-docking capabilities, including mooring, unmooring and short-range maneuvering.
Unlike assistance systems currently on the market, AutoCaptain offers true autonomous maneuvering designed from the ground up with unique Mercury Marine propulsion integration and a dedicated Simrad app for a smooth and intuitive user experience.
“With the launch of AutoCaptain, we complete Brunswick’s ACES (Autonomy, Connectivity, Electrification, Shared Access) strategy by offering true autonomy starting with one of the most complex aspects of navigation: mooring,” said Aine Denari, EVP & President of Navico Group and Brunswick’s Chief Technology Officer. “And this is just the beginning: the hardware platform itself will support an ever-widening range of autonomous functions, implemented through software updates, to make navigation increasingly accessible and intuitive.”
A scalable, forward-looking platform that goes beyond basic assistance. Using real-time 360-degree situational awareness, the system autonomously performs mooring and unmooring maneuvers even in tight spaces or difficult conditions. Intelligent adjustments counteract wind, current and surrounding obstacles detected by the system so that the boat stays firmly alongside the dock and allows the user to prepare ropes and fenders.
Unlike other systems based solely on GPS, AutoCaptain works everywhere, not just in places that have already been mapped. It builds a map by dynamically adapting to the environment in real time through a network of depth-sensing cameras.
Unlike aftermarket solutions, this system is integrated directly into the design of the boat, preserving its aesthetics, demonstrating the strength of synergies within Brunswick. Not surprisingly, it has been installed on a Boston Whaler 405 Conquest, on which it will make its official debut at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, where it will already be available for purchase.
To learn more about AutoCaptain and see important information about the system and safety, visit this link.
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