America’s Cup competitor, Orient Express Racing Team, has selected Advanced Navigation as its navigation provider for the 37th America’s Cup.
The robotics and navigation technology company’s inertial navigation systems (INS), Spatial FOG Dual and Certus will support the team’s AC40 and AC75 yachts, as they sail at speeds up to 55 knots (102 km/h).
“To dominate in the America’s Cup, our AC75 needs a navigation system that can handle the unpredictable and chaotic conditions of open water —where wind, currents, and weather can shift unexpectedly,” said Orient Express Racing Team’s head of electronics and mechatronics, David Gautier. “Advanced Navigation will be critical in helping the crew during its training to make lightning-quick manoeuvres on course direction and sail adjustments, giving us a competitive edge in preparation for races.
“Their solutions provide us with the technological edge we need to improve. With precise measurements of orientation, speed, and acceleration, our team can make split-second decisions in real time, ensuring we stay on the fastest path to success.”
The INS system uses sensors to detect and measure the change in an object’s motion. Advanced Navigation’s Spatial FOG Dual uses accelerometers and gyroscopes to measure a yacht’s speed, roll, pitch, heave and heading in real time, ensuring boat stability and optimised guidance when performing manoeuvres.
The AC75, the official 37th America’s Cup boat, is a foiling monohull measuring 20.7 metres in length. The boat will be leveraging Advanced Navigation’s Spatial FOG Dual INS.
New for the 37th America’s Cup, the AC40 multi-use one-design foiling monohull is the official boat for the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup events.
The AC40 is fitted with Advanced Navigation’s Certus INS and the team’s chaser boat is equipped with an Advanced Navigation GNSS Compass.
“A huge part of what makes the America’s Cup so competitive and exciting to watch is the technology involved,” said Advanced Navigation CEO, Chris Shaw.
“In the high stakes open water race where every split-second counts, real-time data recording and analysis is the ultimate advantage. This makes it the perfect stadium to demonstrate the capabilities of our high-grade navigation technology.”