Charles River Analytics deemed AWARDABLE on Tradewinds
Autonomous Lookout System
Awarion® is an advanced AI-powered autonomous lookout system designed to enhance marine situational awareness and decision-making for crewed, uncrewed, and autonomous vessels. Maritime vessels need onboard, automatic target recognition to navigate and operate safely, create an accurate operational picture, and share the right information with other members of the human-machine team. Awarion complements and supports human lookouts and marine radar systems to support both US forces and marine conservation efforts. Awarion supports crewmembers in accordance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations by addressing the topside limitations of radar- and acoustic-based systems, detecting a variety of hazards and obstacles.
Awarion uses electro-optical (EO) and infrared (IR) video streams to detect, analyze, and report on the presence of whales, ships, and other objects, including fishing buoys and equipment.
Sensing for maritime situational awareness
Awarion helps to facilitate ship safety and collision avoidance rules.
Human lookouts can suffer from fatigue and distraction. People require accommodations and resources typically only found on larger vessels with a greater carbon footprint.
Awarion’s algorithms never tire. They perform advanced analyses, including trajectory modeling and threat assessment. They transfer lookout duties from scattered watchpoints directly to the bridge.
Detecting what radar can’t see and acoustics can’t hear
To help mitigate vessel strikes and support marine life conservation, Awarion uses electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) methods which provide greater detail and resolution than radar.
With EO/IR, Awarion can see what radar can’t see, such as a whale blow or surfacing, and can perform object classification in real time. These capabilities are critical when whales don’t make any sound for passive acoustics to hear.
Performance metrics
In testing on real-world data with targets at ranges up to 5 km
Ships
Whales
Ship classification
Flexible configuration
Situational awareness analytical software
The Awarion system consists of a core software component, which can be delivered as a standalone product or as part of an integrated camera system.
Smart camera with optional pointable mount
Single, pointable camera designed to regularly sweep 360 degrees and autonomously deliver follow-up observations.
Advantages of UI
Ability to annotate and classify whales or other objects of interest as the images are displayed on the user interface.
Multicamera
integration
Multiple cameras with fixed views can have their output combined to form a constant 360-degree view.
System requirements
Awarion connectivity:
Awarion supports standard Ethernet connections, and if satellite connectivity is desired, a clear area for modem installation is needed. Awarion software runs in Docker containers with Robot Operating System (ROS) and RabbitMQ messaging.
Awarion hardware requires:
- 120V AC power
- An elevated position with a clear field of view
- A railing or secure flat plate for installation
- Cable penetrations or pass-throughs into a climate-controlled space for computers
AI maritime perception and research services
Charles River offers AI monitoring services that use Awarion to deliver situational awareness at the sea surface, helping you to detect and classify whales, ships, fishing buoys, and other obstacles. We work with highly regulated commercial industries in offshore wind, shipping, and recreational boating to enhance awareness at sea.
Contact us to learn more about how Charles River and the Awarion Autonomous Lookout System can advance your maritime business needs.
From the press
Meet the team
Ross Eaton
Director of Marine Systems
Geoff Catto
Principal Software Engineer
Andrey Ost
Senior Software Engineer
Yelena Randall
Marine Systems Software Engineer
Jacob Riedel
Marine Systems Software Engineer
Jay Everson
Marine Operations Manager
Autonomy you can trust
Charles River Analytics uniquely combines agile innovation and leading-edge research with a decades-long track record of hardened engineering in austere environments to create best-in-class solutions to diverse, challenging problems.
For more information
On sales and licensing, or to connect with our engineers, contact:
Ross Eaton
Director of Marine Systems
reaton@cra.com
617.234.1530
