Orca AI, a London-based autonomous maritime navigation company founded in 2018 by Yarden Gross and Dor Raviv, has unveiled a groundbreaking software feature named Co-Captain. With this incalculable potential, this innovative tool will go a long way to reduce recent spikes in maritime incidents, which have recently increased by 22 percent. Co-Captain is designed to enhance safety for vessels by leveraging a network of over 1,200 ships already utilizing Orca AI’s platform.
The Co-Captain feature works by processing data from various sensors in real-time. It uses this data to predict how the present environmental conditions will impact the vessels in close range. It further controls for factors such as vessel size and design. By taking these variables into consideration, Co-Captain provides users with data-driven insights that allow ships to sail through labored or dangerous waters safely and easily.
Each ship simultaneously serves as a node in this broader ecosystem, and each node—the ship—has its own onboard AI platform. This platform—which pulls data from a range of sensors in real-time—provides,” said Yarden Gross CEO and co-founder of Orca AI. This massive interconnected system provides the vessels the opportunity to transmit vital safety alerts to other vessels, such as GPS interference alerts and severe weather warnings.
With the continual increase in maritime accidents, it is time for more accurate navigation systems to become a necessity rather than an afterthought. The incidence of maritime accidents is increasing. Orca AI’s Co-Captain is on hand to address these challenges with proactive solutions. Every day, by transmitting accumulated data to the cloud, their software further optimizes ship performance and helps create safer, more efficient maritime operations around the world.
Operating like navigation apps we’ve all come to rely on in our cars, Co-Captain provides real-time alerts to help identify and avoid hazards. Co-Captain is a moored network of vessels connecting through Orca to record events around the world and contribute interpretations and analyses. Think of it like the navigation app you use in your car: it tells you about traffic or roadblocks in advance so you can adjust your route,” Gross explained.
The introduction of Co-Captain continues Orca AI’s innovation from previous products, including SeaPod and Fleet View. The company is committed to further interoperating Co-Captain with additional bridge systems. This goes further by integrating Navigational Telex (NAVTEX) and Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) to enhance its capability.
Co-Captain also anonymizes the data they’ve collected from participating vessels. This provides the necessary cover for them to provide key safety alerts, while protecting the identity of the reporting ship. This collaborative feature encourages a learning-centered space where vessels can learn from each other while protecting participant privacy.
ORCA AI’s dedication to furthering maritime safety speaks to its awareness of the unique challenges that come with navigating busy waterways. With Co-Captain, the company has positioned itself to lead its industry. Our ambition is to eliminate all but the most extraordinary events and increase productivity and safety on the waterways.