Autonomous piloting systems company Sea Machines Robotics has closed a US$12 million funding round.
The organisation’s technology allows onboard computers to maintain precise control of a vessel’s position, steering, and speed during a voyage, reroute it as needed to avoid traffic and obstacles, and use streaming data to improve operations.
The organisation also develops solutions for computer vision, remote command and control, and advanced data collection along shipping routes, among other applications.
The company was founded in 2015 by Michael Johnson with the aim of using technology to overcome the reliance on manual control and human perception.
Sea Machines has raised $1.4 million in seed-funding in 2017 to develop its early concept technology and since then has raised more than $30 million from investors.
It is now playing a role in the growing autonomous ships sector which some reports estimate will grow almost 10% between 2022 and 2030.
Key factors behind the shift toward autonomy include cost pressures, labour shortages, safety, fuel savings and greenhouse gas reductions. This latest $12 million funding round will help Sea Machines improve its technological edge and grow its market presence.
