SmartAIS is a significant set of free new features that Vesper Marine has added to its existing Wi-Fi-equipped AIS transponders, like the WatchMate XB-8000, by deeply extending the hardware’s integration with Vesper’s WatchMate phone and tablet apps. For instance, the Android and iOS apps can now visually highlight and alarm potentially dangerous targets using the same sophisticated algorithms Vesper has long offered its dedicated AIS displays, including “anchored,” “harbor,” “coastal” and “offshore” profile modes. These easily switched and customizable profiles are valuable because optimal alarming varies so much with AIS traffic situations—and they’re not available elsewhere. The smartAIS apps also offer similarly advanced anchor drag and AIS MOB alarming, and a PC is no longer needed to setup or update smartAIS transponders. The cherry on top for some sailors will be the fact that the new Vesper DeckWatch app puts many smartAIS features on an Android Wear 2.0 watch. Finally, the secret sauce for anyone understandably leery about using mobile devices for safety lies in the fact that all audible alarms set up with the WatchMate or DeckWatch apps will be loudly sounded by the transponder itself even if the mobile device is entirely shut down. Free. Vesper Marine, vespermarine.com
Back to 2018 Pittman Innovation Awards
February 2018
