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Popular Science 2023’s “Best of What’s New” award in the engineering category was presented to Charles River Analytics for its Awarion® Autonomous Lookout System.
Currently deployed to assist marine mammal protection measures during offshore wind farm construction, the Awarion collision-avoidance notification system draws on artificial intelligence and a computer-vision system to complement human lookouts and marine radar systems.
Awarion uses electro-optical and infrared video to detect, analyze, and report on the presence of whales, ships, and other objects, including fishing buoys and equipment, at long distances. The system is being tested on Vineyard Wind 1, the United States’ first commercial-scale offshore wind project located 15 miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Charles River Analytics state that each year, Popular Science reviews thousands of new products and innovations. To win a “Best of What’s New” award, a product or technology must represent a significant step forward in its category.
Awarion caught the attention of Popular Science editors due to the novel application of AI and computer vision to help advance visual monitoring capabilities designed to protect marine mammals during offshore wind development.
Ross Eaton, Principal Scientist and Director of Marine Systems at Charles River Analytics, stated; “It is incredibly rewarding to develop technology that can play an important role in conservation, climate change mitigation, and marine safety. To have that work acknowledged by Popular Science is just outstanding. I couldn’t be more proud of our entire team.”
Technology Editor-In-Chief Annie Colbert commented; “Since 1988, Popular Science has proudly celebrated the groundbreaking innovations changing our world. The Best of What’s New Awards showcase the year’s radical ideas that are improving our everyday lives and our futures.”
Richard Wronski, Division Vice President at Charles River Analytics, added; “Vineyard Wind deserves recognition for deploying cutting-edge technology that can benefit the offshore wind industry and the broader shipping industry as a whole. They led the way in realizing Awarion’s potential as a support for human lookouts in the protection of marine mammals.”
