Vessel Control Systems News
Yamaha announces new alliance with Siren Marine
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. announced a strategic alliance with Siren Marine. It is Yamaha’s most recent step to reinforce CommandBlue™, a philosophy that represents a commitment to move engineering and development into the realm of the customer, ultimately delivering products that are easier to use and creating greater satisfaction and confidence on the water.
Brunswick hires Marine Autonomy Technology Lead
Jason Arbuckle has been promoted to the newly formed role of Marine Autonomy Technology Lead at Brunswick Corp, a move designed to advance the company’s ACES (Autonomy, Connectivity, Electrification Shared Access) strategy. The new position, says Brunswick, will enable the US manufacturer to lead the delivery of highly automated-to-autonomous solutions for the recreational marine industry.
The smart boat
Boats are getting smarter. This is a trend that isn’t going away. Over the last five or so years, we’ve heard the term the “connected boat” more and more across the industry. But what is the connected boat and what does it mean for the future of the industry and boating as a whole? As technology and innovations continue to propel boats into the future, we at Boating Industry wanted to really dig into what the connected boat is, how it’s created and what it means to the industry. Over the next year, each issue of Boating Industry will feature a story digging into new aspects of the connected boat with the help of various industry experts.
Mercury introduces its next‑generation Digital Throttle & Shift system
The Next Gen DTS sytem comes with all the best attributes of the successful DTS system that Mercury launched in 2004, including smooth and ultra‑responsive throttle performance with zero hesitation and full integration with SmartCraft digital technologies. Representing a major step in the product’s evolution, the Next Gen DTS system brings together an enhanced operating system, improved ergonomic designs for the electronic remote controls (ERC) and additional user‑friendly features.
Boat Fix now standard on 2021 Vision Marine electric boats
Boat Fix, the 24/7 marine customer service company, has signed an agreement with Vision Marine Technologies (VMT) to deliver a custom, white-labeled telematics solution to be included with all model year 2021 electric boats. Boat Fix will supply VMT telematics hardware and monitoring software with an accompanying app, along with its 24/7 customer support and services. Boat Fix will also provide a solution to all of VMT’s OEM customers through 2023. The telematics technology is intended to monitor the health of the vessel, as well as the battery consumption of the ePropulsion electric motors installed on specific vessels in production.
Yamaha Updates F250 and F300 Outboards
For 2021, Yamaha has upgraded its F250 and F300 V6 Offshore Digital Electronic Control four-stroke outboards. They feature built-in Digital Electric Steering (DES), Thrust Enhancing Reverse Exhaust (TERE) and other features derived from the company’s 425-hp flagship outboard, the XTO Offshore.
Metal Shark to provide autonomous vessel system to the Marines
Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark has been contracted to develop and implement the Long Range Unmanned Surface Vessel (LRUSV) System for the U.S. Marine Corps. The LRUSV System will usher in a new era of naval technology while increasing the lethality of U.S. forces, with a network of unmanned vessels traveling autonomously for extended ranges and transporting loitering munitions to address targets at sea and on land. This tiered, scalable weapons system will provide the ability to accurately track and destroy targets at range throughout the battle space. While fully autonomous, the vessels may be optionally manned and they will carry multiple payloads, which they will be capable of autonomously launching and retrieving. Metal Shark has enlisted autonomous technology developer Spatial Integrated Systems (SIS), recently acquired by Huntington Ingalls Industries, to provide the autonomy solution for the LRUSV system. SIS is a leader in the development of multivessel collaborative “swarming” autonomous capabilities, sensor fusion and perception.
Three ways that autonomy is affecting the maritime and offshore service industry
With rapidly evolving autonomous technology spanning everything from advanced sensors to navigation systems, the maritime industry is embracing emerging technology for its cost effectiveness, safety, and fuel efficiency. With recent advances in autonomous technology ranging from communication technologies to zero-emission autonomous ships, autonomy is affecting how the maritime and offshore industry operate.
What is SmartCraft® and How Does it Work?
Twenty years ago, a boat was essentially a collection of individual components, many of which operated independently. Then, in the early 2000s, Mercury Marine® introduced its revolutionary SmartCraft® digital technology suite, which integrated the engine(s) with other onboard systems and equipment, providing owners with a higher level of control over their boats. The SmartCraft suite has continued to grow ever since, with Mercury adding new functions and features that help make boating much easier and more enjoyable.
