More news of the industry's technical advances - MarineBusinessWorld Oceania newsletter
by Peter Rendle 19 Jan 2023 15:00 PST
HD Hyundai's Avikus recognized for innovation at CES © Avikus
Innovation in the marine industry is not limited to renewable power solutions. Technical advances span the whole spectra of marine products. The pasted addition to the list is from Hyundai.
AVIKUS, HD Hyundai's autonomous navigation in-house start-up, announced today its NeuBoat, an autonomous phase-2 navigation solution for leisure boats, was recognized for innovation at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). NeuBoat was selected as an Innovation Award Honoree in the category of Vehicle Tech and Advanced Mobility. CES was held January 5 through 8, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada. NeuBoat leverages the power of the Avikus Navigation Assistant System (NAS) and Docking Assistant System (DAS).
Avikus NAS allows a boat to recognize and assess on-the-water situations in real-time and without human intervention through deep learning and sensor fusion algorithms. As this data is processed, NAS creates and maintains an optimal route for safe autonomous navigation, allowing boaters to enjoy their time on the water without the stress of vessel operation.
If desired, the system allows users to experience the autonomous navigation process through its Augmented Reality (AR) screen, which indicates risk level using different colour informational boxes. For convenience, boaters can also control navigation from anywhere on board the boat with a mobile device.
Sail and power boats are all benefiting from technology advances and one company, B&G, has been involved in providing equipment for yachts over many years. The Ocean Race 2023 began on January 15 and for the 50th anniversary of the world's toughest round-the-world crewed sailing race, B&G is back at the start line as the Official Technical Supplier for the 14th edition as it sets off from Alicante, Spain headed for the finish in Genova, Italy in July. During that time, the fleet will cover 32,000 nautical miles and stop in eight countries including an epic 12,750 nautical mile Southern Ocean leg from Cape Town, South Africa to Itajai, Brazil that will take a month.
Dating back to 1973, B&G has been the electronics of choice for every winner of this legendary test of adventure, teamwork, determination, and technology. For the Ocean Race 2023, two of the leading contenders in the IMOCA 60 class of boats - 11th Hour Racing Team and Team Malizia - will be equipped with the latest B&G electronics, navigation systems and data processors.
Technology also extends to hull construction and the latest release from Neel reflects these advances. The NEEL 43 has added two prestigious achievements to its swag of awards, confirming its status as one of the world's most impressive cruising multihulls. The innovative trimaran won the Sailing World 2023 "Best Multihull" category in the hotly contested Boat of the Year awards, and it was also included in SAIL's Top Ten Best Boats for 2023. The judging panels commended the NEEL 43 for its unique interior layout, outstanding comfort and excellent sailing performance.
The Lombard-designed trimaran is the most compact model in the NEEL range, although it has a high freeboard and similar pod design to the NEEL 47, 51 and 65. The model also features a marked move towards the use of bio-sourced and recyclable materials. The trimaran boasts a striking and voluminous interior design optimising panoramic views and accommodates up to ten passengers yet is easily handled by a small crew. The NEEL 43's construction mirrors the other models in the range, including a vacuum-infused composite sandwich using PVC and PET foams with carbon-fibre reinforcement.
Resins and gelcoats have also been improved with a view to limiting styrene emissions, which is part of the shipyard's commitment to eco-friendly cruising through the use of bio-sourced and recyclable materials. The Neel range is distributed by Multihull Solutions in Australia and South East Asia.
Battery technology is also of paramount interest. RELiON Battery, a global leader in the development of lithium batteries, this week announced their next generation portable power source, the Outlaw 1072s. Developed with the safest and longest lasting lithium iron phosphate (LiFePo4) chemistry, the Outlaw is powerful enough to run or charge essential electronics anywhere.
"The Outlaw 1072s is a safe, reliable option for all power needs wherever and whenever it is needed - from camping and outdoor parties, to an alternative home power source, or even as an emergency backup," said Eric Lindquist, VP and General Manager, Power Systems at Navico Group. "We are thrilled to enhance RELiON's portfolio in the portable power space, and to continue providing premium lithium battery options for customers looking for long-lasting, convenient solutions." With a sleek lightweight design and fresh features, the next generation Outlaw 1072s enables adventures of any kind. From laptops and lights to TVs and refrigerators, the Outlaw can power small to medium devices and appliances.
The inherently safe LiFePO4 technology delivers seven times longer lifespan compared to other lithium options on the market with 3500 cycles. The portable power solution offers high battery capacity with 1000 watts continuous and 2000 watts peak. Additionally, it can be charged at home or on the go with either an AC wall charger or in the sun with 12-25V/160W max solar input charging.
From all aspects 2023 will be a very interesting year for the industry. With the onward search for the perfect propulsion alternative, plus the ongoing advances in electronic onboard accessories and build construction, the playing field will become increasingly competitive as companies vie to be the "latest and greatest".
At Marine Business World - with websites covering Europe, North America and Oceania - we will be in constant contact with all sources of marine industry news with the intention of keeping members advised of the latest updates.
Stay safe,
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@marinebusinessworld.com