Advancements in autonomous technology have come a long way over the past few decades, so it’s not hard to imagine that it would make its way to the waterways. According to Raymarine and Avikus, we can expect even more boating innovation soon. During the 2023 Miami International Boat Show, the companies announced a joint venture to develop the first line self-driving boats. If you’re wondering if autonomous boating is the next big thing, keep reading as Boatline explores all the details.
When Will the First Autonomous Boat Launch?
In Raymarine and Avikus’ joint announcement, the companies stated that the autonomous boat line will be released late 2023. This comes after Raymarine announced that they would take some time late 2022 to see if Avikus’s technology would be suitable for the project.
While Raymarine is widely known for producing high-performance electronics for sailboats and fishing boats, Avikus is a new company in the world of marine vehicles. In the announcement, Avikus agreed to work exclusively with Raymarine to bring self-driving boats to the market. This deal will allow both companies to attract a new generation of boaters and help introduce more seasoned boaters to some of today’s most promising technology.
What Are The Development Plans?
The companies plan to both take a hand in designing and building the autonomous boat line. Each company will bring their own unique contribution to the project, with Avikus developing NeuBoat autonomous technology, and Raymarine providing marine-focussed electronic sensors. Some of Raymarine’s technology will range from chartplotters to visible light and infrared cameras, radar and more.
Avikus and Raymarine started this project with the common goal of providing boaters with autonomy that will significantly enhance the overall cruising experience. The companies specifically mentioned plans for autodocking , which could ensure boaters can find a bigger catch or find the perfect sunset spot to lounge on their bow rider, or other day cruising boat. Autodocking is only one of the autonomous features mentioned in the announcement, but there are plenty of other features in the work as well.
How The Autonomous Features Work
The boats are being developed with varying levels of autonomy, which will provide a more versatile experience for boaters. This will work by installing multiple sensors around the vessel to help it avoid obstacles and hazards on the water. These sensors will always play a significant role in the integration of full dock-to-dock autonomy, with no user-input.
Overall, the autonomous features are heavily focused on making boat navigation easier and safer. This could be extremely beneficial for those who are new to boating. Avikus has also made plans to allow user direction via smartphones, with the goal of adding convenience to the boating experience.
The companies are currently working on two boats to start, with plans to expand autonomous boating technology in the future. There are also a variety of other autonomous features that are in the works, including more options for remote control.
While the autonomous boat line is still in development, the companies hope to have the boats completely built and launched later this year. If you’re looking for a boat to take out on the water in the meantime, make sure to browse the nationwide inventory of new and used boats at Boatline.com.
