The Future of Boating Safety? WATCHIT’s AI System Brings New Level of Vigilance to the Sea

The serene bliss of lounging on an Azimut flybridge was abruptly destroyed for Lawrence Nathan, WATCHIT’s co-founder, when the boat he was aboard abruptly crashed into a reef off the Greek isles. But from this fiasco, an elegant yet practical solution was fashioned- the WATCHIT Smart Prevention System. Lawrence and his team developed an NMEA-compatible blackbox system employing artificial intelligence. The system absorbs data from existing navigation aids like GPS, AIS receivers, electronic compasses and autopilots. It also incorporates its ‘own charting software.’ With this data, WATCHIT’s system identifies potential sea hazards, calculates the risk, and alerts the user to take evasive action. This system heralds a leap in maritime safety. The most notable feature is the ‘Dynamic Alert Zone,’ unlike conventional boat warning systems that trigger alerts based on mere distance. Instead, WATCHIT’s ‘Dynamic Alert Zone’ considers boat speed, ongoing route and operator awareness in adjusting the potential danger area. Let’s say a sailing boat is casually cruising at 5 knots with an island 200m away, the island presents no immediate threat. But consider this, a jet ski and a sports cruiser are heading towards each other at a total speed of 70 knots with the same distance apart. That’s a recipe for disaster mere seconds away. The ultimate goal of WATCHIT’s system is to provide users with at least a 10 to 30-second buffer to act when a potential danger is detected. This AI-powered system is tireless in its vigilance, but it will only caution when there is a clear risk of collision. Whether it’s a visible threat like an approaching ship or an unseen hazard like an underwater reef, the smart system exercises prudence, only issuing warnings when truly necessary. Don’t be anxious about false alarms when approaching a bustling port or marina, WATCHIT is astute enough to understand the difference. In the event of an impending danger, both visual pop-ups on the boat’s existing MFD and audible warnings through its Bluetooth speaker system would alert the user. The alerts start soft, with a beep and a calm voice stating the nature of the threat. If no action is taken, the alerts increase in intensity. The cherry on top of WATCHIT’s AI system is the WATCHIT Eye, a recent add-on that elevates this new-age safety system. It’s a high-frequency, short-range radar capable of picking up small objects, enhancing the system’s efficiency in accident prevention even further. With each bobbing head in the sea now detectable, smooth sailing just might be an achievable reality!