Seoul, South Korea – Avikus, HD Hyundai’s specialized Autonomous Navigation Technology subsidiary, announced today that it will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Honda Marine to integrate its NEUBOAT Semi-Autonomous System with the Honda Intelligent Shift & Throttle® (iST®) command and control system. The official signing will take place at the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX), on October 7, in the Tampa Convention Center. As a pioneer of four-stroke technology, Honda Marine, a division of Honda Power Sports & Products, has designed and built outboards since 1964, setting the benchmark for its comprehensive product range that boasts fuel efficiency, quiet operation and low emissions.
According to the terms of the MOU, Avikus will integrate its NEUBOAT Semi-Autonomous System using the protocol of the Honda iST® drive-by-wire control system to provide A.I. and autonomous features such as collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control and auto docking. Next steps call for Avikus systems to integrate with Honda BF350 iST® controllers across all OEMs, dealers and customers.
Avikus’ NEUBOAT NAVI and DOCK 2 situational awareness systems team up with NEUBOAT CONTROL autonomous control system to provide real-time information and calculated automated adjustments during navigation on the water or during the docking process. Quite simply, it takes the guesswork out of navigating and docking using advanced sensors to detect and categorize objects on the water and calculate distance from the vessel. This information provides operators with unmatched situational awareness and assists navigators with making the safest and most efficient decisions while maneuvering.
The Honda Marine iST® system offers control of up to four outboard engines and two separate control stations paired with effortless shift and throttle management. Features such as single-switch trim control, engine speed synchronization and push-button starting make Honda iST® the ideal platform for multi-engine solutions to increase security, safety and overall vessel control. The iST® system is available on a range of Honda Marine high-power outboard motors, including the BF115, BF150, BF200, BF225, BF250, and BF350 models.
“Honda carries a long-standing recognition and respect across a multitude of industries including marine,” said Do-Hyeong Lim, CEO of Avikus. “Honda continuously elevates the customer experience when it comes to marine engines and controls. And we’re excited to begin working with an industry-leading team of engineers at Honda to bring award-winning autonomous technology and convenience to Honda customers in the marine space.”
For more information about Avikus, please visit avikus.us.
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About AVIKUS:
AVIKUS, a startup specialized in autonomous navigation solutions, was established in December 2020 by HD Hyundai, the world’s No. 1 shipbuilder. The company’s accolades include the successful completion of an autonomous operation demonstration of 12-seater cruise ship over the 10km Pohang Canal for 40 minutes without human intervention, as well as the world’s first autonomous navigation cross the ocean with their HiNAS (Hyundai Intelligent Navigation Assistant System) Control AVIKUS presented its autonomous navigation technology at CES2022, and recently announced the successful completion of phase 2 of its autonomous navigation solution, HiNAS Control, in conjunction with winning the orders of 23 large ships from two of the world’s major ship builders.
About Honda Marine
Honda Marine, a division of Honda Power Sports & Products, markets a complete range of marine outboard motors. Its comprehensive product line is powered exclusively by four-stroke engines. Honda Marine pioneered four-stroke engine technology and has been designing and building four-stroke outboard motors for more than 60 years, setting the benchmark for fuel efficiency, quiet operation and low emissions. With models ranging from 2.3 to 350 horsepower, the Honda Marine full line of current production models meets the rigorous California Air Resources Board (CARB) 3-star standards, enabling availability and regulatory compliance in all 50 states.