Gear: Raymarine ClearCruise AR
Augmented reality – the almost invisible line between the real and digital world – is about to come to boatingMarine electronics group Raymarine has revealed a navigation system that uses computer-generated images to help boat owners navigate unfamiliar or busy waters.
The Raymarine FLIR ClearCruise system uses augmented reality – superimposing computer-generated images on top of the user’s view of the real world – to build a video feed that shows details about marks, other boats, and hazards.
It will even produce a visual reference point that skippers can steer to should anyone go overboard.
The system uses a Raymarine camera mounted high on the boat to provide a stabilised view of the water that is then projected onto the cockpit’s Axiom navigation screen. The real-world video feed is overlaid with digitally generated information such as nearby navigation marks, vessels identified by the boat’s AIS traffic system, objects and waypoints.
Raymarine said the ClearCruise AR system tagged on-water features to make them instantly recognisable, and made navigation – particularly on crowded and unfamiliar waterways – much simpler to understand.
“Our new ClearCruise AR technology delivers an intuitive method of combining navigation data with the real world,” FLIR Systems commercial business unit president Travis Merrill said.
“Using Axiom’s powerful video capabilities and our exclusive AR200 video image stabilisation technology, ClearCruise AR gives captains greater confidence and peace of mind when navigating busy or unfamiliar waterways.”
Automotive applications
Augmented reality is already used extensively in the automotive world. Head-up displays can place speeds, satellite navigation commands and other information in front of the driver, while reversing cameras use digital guides to trace out where the rear of a vehicle – or a towball – will end up.
ClearCruise AR for Raymarine Axiom, Axiom Pro, and Axiom XL multifunction navigation displays will be introduced to Australia via the LightHouse 3.7 OS update due for release this month.
Owners will also need to have a CAM210 HD marine video camera ($999) and the AR200 video stabilisation module ($899) for the software to work.
Raymarine recently upgraded its Axiom system to support a DJI drone that can be controlled via the cockpit. Boat owners can use the drone for activities such as scanning anchorages for hazards, or finding an empty pen in a crowded marina.
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