SeaBubbles & ABB Show Off New Zero-Emission Water Taxi

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!

A new zero-emission water taxi called SeaBubbles, developed in partnership with ABB, was taken out onto Lake Geneva in Switzerland where it took the opportunity to show off its capabilities. The concept for the water taxi, the hydrofoils that give it its lift and the flight control system were designed by Caponnetto-Hueber.

The vehicle uses hydrofoil technology to lift the hull of the boat out of the water and an array of advanced sensors to keep the vehicle perfectly balanced and stable. The sensors work together with the vehicle controls to compensate for the pitch, roll, and height of the vehicle in an effort to minimize the sensations that cause sea sickness.

Sensor data feeds into the fly by wire system – also known as a semiautonomous or computerized control system – that manages the position of the 3 flaps on the foils to keep the craft stable regardless of conditions on the water. The video below presents a compelling image from the initial display of the vehicle’s capabilities.

As the hydrofoils lift the hull out of the water when underway, water resistance to the bulk of the vehicle is minimized, leaving only the hydrofoils themselves and the three connections up to the body of the boat in contact with the water. This technology is utilized in America’s Cup racing boats and these are the same resources the SeaBubble team approached to get the system tuned up.

ABB is bringing its smarts to the table with its Ability Marine Advisory System which it calls OCTOPUS. OCTOPUS has been installed into the SeaBubble taxis and will serve as the brains of the vehicles, taking in all of the sensor data and using it to control the vehicle. The system also relays vehicle telematics data back to the SeaBubble operations center, where the SeaBubbles team monitors its vehicles.

The implementation of the OCTOPUS system in the single demonstration craft barely scratches the surface of the potential of the system. OCTOPUS has the capability to manage entire fleets and massive distributed operations, including a fleet of SeaBubbles craft.

Check out the video below, check out the ABB brief on the SeaBubbles project or head over to the SeaBubbles team Facebook page for more information about this exciting development in watercraft.


Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.

Latest CleanTechnica TV Video


Advertisement
 
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.

Kyle Field

I'm a tech geek passionately in search of actionable ways to reduce the negative impact my life has on the planet, save money and reduce stress. Live intentionally, make conscious decisions, love more, act responsibly, play. The more you know, the less you need. As an activist investor, Kyle owns long term holdings in Tesla, Lightning eMotors, Arcimoto, and SolarEdge.

Kyle Field has 1654 posts and counting. See all posts by Kyle Field