Boston-based Sea Machines Robotics, a developer of autonomous technology for marine vessels, has announced the successful completion of sea trials of the company’s introductory line of intelligent command and control systems for maritime applications.
The two new products, SM300 and SM200, can be installed into existing or newbuild vessels, and incorporate communication interfaces for integration with onboard digital, analogue and mechanical systems.
The company says that their modular design allows installation and commissioning to be completed in just a few days for most vessels.
The flagship SM300 vessel intelligence system integrates with existing vessel systems and sensors to manage pre-planned and dynamically charted missions, offering pilot-by-wire propulsion and steering control, obstacle and traffic avoidance, and remote payload control.
The system features an embedded ECDIS and can provide situational awareness via electronic charts, ARPA, and AIS. Communication with the system can be done through wireless, 4G and satellite, providing a real-time data feed to a remote operator.
The SM200 version of the system meanwhile can be used for integrated line-of-sight and remote-vessel control for collaborative vessel operations.
“This is the advanced technology that mariners have long been awaiting,” said Sea Machines’ CEO Michael G. Johnson.
“Our products allow operators and crew to focus on higher-value tasks while at sea, empowering a commercial vessel to do more with predictable results and lower operational costs. Missions such as survey, fishing, dredging, surveillance and offshore energy support can now be executed productively around the clock and in extreme weather conditions, with improved crew safety and efficiency.”
