Eightknot's Autonomous Navigation Technology Used in Demonstration Test for 'Demonstration Project Utilizing Autonomous Marine Unmanned Vehicles and Unmanned Submersibles'

Eightknot Inc. (Location: Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, Representative Director: Hiroto Kimura, hereinafter referred to as "the Company"), a startup specializing in autonomous navigation technology for ships, is pleased to announce that its autonomous navigation technology, developed by the Company, was used in the demonstration test of the 'Demonstration Project Utilizing Autonomous Marine Unmanned Vehicles and Unmanned Submersibles'. This project was jointly conducted by the Company's partner companies: FullDepth Inc. (President & CEO: Satoshi Yoshiga), Toyo Engineering Corporation (President & CEO: Eiji Hosoi), NIPPON STEEL ENGINEERING CO., LTD. (President & CEO: Yukito Ishiwa), and OKI Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Takahiro Mori).

The 'Demonstration Project Utilizing Autonomous Marine Unmanned Vehicles and Unmanned Submersibles' aims to establish a data-driven (DX) maintenance model for offshore wind power and create a roadmap for the social implementation of AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) and other unmanned systems, as a step towards the domestic production and utilization of AUVs that can autonomously explore underwater.

In this demonstration test, unmanned data acquisition was performed on an observation target, simulating a floating offshore wind power generation facility, using an ASV (Autonomous Surface Vehicle) and an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle). The ASV used was our company's small vessel 'Eight Knot I', equipped with our autonomous navigation platform 'Eightknot AI CAPTAIN'. It automatically generated a route to the destination and, by recognizing other vessels and obstacles using cameras and radar, autonomously navigated to the observation target while avoiding collisions. The autonomous navigation to the designated position was successful as planned, achieving the objectives of this demonstration test.

Moving forward, the Company aims to realize a society where the ocean can be utilized safely and efficiently through DX in the maritime field.

Release regarding FullDepth's demonstration test: https://fulldepth.co.jp/news/305

About the Cabinet Office AUV Utilization Demonstration Project: https://www8.cao.go.jp/ocean/policies/auv/auv_pilot_project/pilot_index.html

This is an autonomous navigation platform developed by our company. The AI detects and automatically avoids obstacles and other vessels, and handles navigation from route setting to safe docking and undocking. It can be retrofitted to existing vessels. Furthermore, we provide vessel intelligence technologies in modular units, including navigation, automatic steering, and recognition of other vessels.