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[ CREATIVE MINDS: DLBA NAVAL ARCHITECTS ]
IT GOT US THINKING, “THIS IS WHERE THINGS ARE GOING.” THE IDEA OF AUTOMATION AND AUTONOMY IS BIG IN OUR OFFICE AND WITH OUR PARENT COMPANY by Diane M. Byrne
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Chris Swanhart and the rest of the DLBA Naval Architects staff of marine engineers and naval architects have been studying artificial intelligence (AI) for more than a year. They believe the technology can optimize essentially every system onboard a superyacht
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[ CREATIVE MINDS ]
C
rewmembers perform their jobs diligently. Still, though, accidents happen. In fact, studies by government agencies and insurers reveal that up to 96 percent of all marine incidents
are due to human error, such as fatigue.
Statistics like this can either worry you or motivate you to do something about it. DLBA Naval Architects is definitely motivated. For more than a year, it has been exploring how to use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve safety and efficiency, ultimately benefitting everyone onboard. The studio not only designed a 58-meter concept, Tempo, extensively using AI, but also is applying lessons from real vessels with the technology. A U.S. naval-architecture and marine-engineering firm, DLBA Naval Architects was established in 1988 as Donald L. Blount and Associates. Its founder, Donald L. Blount, wanted to leverage 35 years of experience with the U.S. Navy to further marine technology. Since then, the studio has earned a reputation for high-speed recreational, commercial, and military craft, additionally designing various other vessels. Similarly, it has collaborated with diverse marine specialists. According to Chris Swanhart, the studio’s director of recreational boats, a collaboration with Volvo Penta helped interest the team in AI. The companies were advancing the IPS system, which now incorporates self-docking technology. “It got us thinking, ‘This is where things are going,’” Swanhart says. “The idea of automation and autonomy is big in our office and with our parent company.” That parent company is Gibbs & Cox, America’s largest independent and privately owned naval architecture and marine engineering firm, founded in 1929. The more the DLBA team began researching AI, Swanhart says, the more it made sense to apply it to a superyacht. After all, he points out, automobiles have had sensors and AI-related systems for years, and self-driving cars are making inroads. Even self-docking technology has its roots in commercial and military craft dating back more than a decade. Furthermore, unmanned vessels are already plying the world’s oceans. In fact, DLBA Naval Architects has performed unmanned vessel design work for an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense. “Nothing will be done by humans at sea,” Swanhart explains. Tempo, however, isn’t an unmanned craft. “In yachting, there will always be the need for crew,” Swanhart stresses. Rather, Tempo relies on AI to take on some of the navigation workload, thereby helping the captain and crew become more situationally aware, whether in open seas, busy harbors, or bad weather. For instance, data from GPS, radar, electronic charts, video cameras, and more feeds sensors, and AI coordinates the information to determine the
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The 78m Slipstream is clothed in clean lines that are raked in certain areas to lower her proportions and bring occupants closer to the sea. Her beach area is a circular indoor-outdoor affair, thanks to open-out platforms. A large six-metre pool on the swim platform is another new addition. Below left, the interior of the beach area with the Nemo Lounge and its underwater views, right
AI has already been playing a role in the commercial and military sectors for years. Data from onboard sensors combines with information from GPS, radar, weather information systems, video cameras, and other electronics to ensure safe navigation through congested areas and open seas
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best course to follow. This helps eliminate the human errors that, as
Even better, some yacht owners already appreciate how Tempo can
already mentioned, can result in unfortunate incidents. “Not all are
improve their enjoyment at sea. Swanhart says that DLBA Naval
awful user errors,” Swanhart cautions. “It’s smaller things that can
Architects has received a few inquiries to see how far the concept is
lead to user error.”
developed and what the next steps might be. Those steps, interestingly
Additionally, he says, Tempo, whose exterior styling is by SDG, uses
enough, could include AI-led cybersecurity. Just as it can mitigate
AI to monitor mechanical and electrical systems in real time. “It’s
human error in navigation, AI can do the same with crewmembers and/
running simulations, evaluating the results, and teaching itself about
or guests using weak passwords or clicking links that they shouldn’t.
the potentials of what could be happening,” Swanhart explains. “It also
Regardless of what happens with Tempo, Swanhart and the team see a
flags things that may fail soon instead of waiting for them to fail.” This
bright future for AI in yachting. “There are people with the resources
makes cruising safer, plus reduces downtime—something that owners
to do it in the superyacht world, and it will trickle down to production
and guests will appreciate.
boats,” he believes.
DLBA Naval Architects chose the name Tempo for the concept design because it relates to the boost in reliability and overall operations stemming from AI. Ultimately, whether using AI or long-standing technology, the studio seeks ways to help owners and guests spend more quality time onboard
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