Sea Machines Robotics, in conjunction with HamiltonJet, has launched a new intelligent voyage control product that provides waterjet vessels with autonomous navigation, multi-sensor fusion and computer vision. JETsense utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced autonomy to perceive the environment and maintain precise control of steering and speed during a voyage, re-routing to avoid traffic and obstacles while enabling a new level of streaming data to improve on-water operations.
The new HamiltonJet product, which features Sea Machines’ technology at its core, is the culmination of a development effort to create a helm-based system to advise, safeguard or assume active control of open water vessel transits. A formal product launch took place in HamiltonJet’s booth during the International WorkBoat Show, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.
Sea Machines and HamiltonJet have also previously successfully commissioned an SM300 autonomous control system aboard a HamiltonJet-powered workboat in New Zealand. HamiltonJet continues to trial this marine technology and provides on-demand customer demonstrations in the Southern Hemisphere. HamiltonJet’s commercial customers primarily operate in the marine security, survey, search and rescue, firefighting, ferry, aquaculture, pilot boat and yachting sectors – all ideal candidates for Sea Machines technology.
Ben Reed, managing director of HamiltonJet, commented: “JETsense is the first product in the market to incorporate Sea Machines’ advanced vision package. It pairs on-board autonomy with enhanced situational awareness (through cameras, radar, AIS, depth, etc.) in a way that is highly desirable in many manned applications. Throughout development, we prioritized helm integration and the ease-of-use for mariners. We work with a variety of autonomy providers around the world, but we knew Sea Machines was the best partner with which to develop JETsense due to their commercial focus and rapidly expanding technical capabilities.”
Michael G. Johnson, CEO of Sea Machines, stated: “Together with HamiltonJet we are elevating the bridge crew from continuous controller to commander, increasing ease, safety and efficiency of a vessel’s operation while giving the crew the freedom to focus beyond conventional routine control. We are pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with HamiltonJet. As an early adopter of Sea Machines technologies, HamiltonJet again reaffirms its reputation as an innovator and advanced solutions provider for high-speed marine operations.”
