The 4500% Problem
Why the recreational marine industry lacks widespread collision avoidance technology
Before joining Tocaro Blue over a year ago, I spent almost a decade in the high-performance driving industry as a professional driving instructor. I also co-founded a company called APEX Pro that makes products for racecar drivers. As a driving instructor for luxury automotive brands, I taught hundreds of people how capable Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technology truly is.
Eighteen months ago, I transitioned to the marine industry with Tocaro Blue. I have been surprised at how far behind the marine industry's technology is compared to the automotive industry. There are numerous obvious and significant challenges for technology aboard vessels (electronics don't like water, for one), but many of these challenges are also faced by the automotive industry. The primary difference is the scale of the two industries: The global automotive industry dwarfs the marine industry by 4,500% (comparing number of boats to number of cars globally: 33 million boats to 1.47 billion cars). This means specialized technology has more commercial applications, and thanks to the beauty of economies of scale, specialized ADAS R&D is tenable for automotive applications.
Unlike the automotive world, the marine industry is more disparate – thousands of companies build boats. Some sources claim that there are over 40,000 boat builders in the world. The automotive industry has largely consolidated, almost to the point of being an oligopoly, with roughly a dozen corporations dominating the landscape. This consolidation and production volume gives the automotive industry buying power when they turn to vendors for sensor and software solutions. It also means that vendors and suppliers of ADAS technology like ZF, Bosch, Continental, and others can expend resources integrating their solutions for each manufacturer and model.
The world is changing
The re-popularization of AI has put a new emphasis on efficiency. Technology now exists that offers small businesses, like boat builders, access to knowledge and capabilities like never before (hello ChatGPT!). The ADAS know-how from the automotive industry is infusing itself into the maritime domain. Momentum is palpable, yet stymied by a lack of cooperation and alignment on regulation when it comes to ADAS technology. This was faced in the automotive industry as well, and due to many catalysts and pedestrian deaths, most notably the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007, the auto industry accepted standards and developed working groups to advance the state of ADAS. A "rising tide raises all ships" mentality... pun intended.
The marine industry is unique and very different from the automotive industry. Broadly, cars are made for people to get places. Some cars are made to be enjoyed, but that is a niche – one that I enjoy greatly. The marine industry, however, is split between work boats and commercial ships, and the enthusiast-only recreational segment. Most saltwater recreational boats already benefit from a suite of sensors – radar, compass/GPS, AIS, and some even have thermal cameras. In some cases, these sensors interact, enhancing one another's capabilities. However, it has become clear to me over the last year that the industry lacks the cohesion and technology-focused mindset required to truly build great collision avoidance systems. In the cases where sensors do work together, like radar and camera slew-to-cue functionality, the user interface to access the features is non-intuitive and requires extensive system knowledge. Building smart marine ADAS solutions that can be accepted by a critical customer is tough. This is a headwind for the marine industry. In many ways, the marine industry is more like the aviation industry, which has had "ADAS" solutions like autopilot since before many of you reading this article were born!
The US Coast Guard reported 564 deaths due to boating accidents alone in 2023. Preventing accidents is not the whole story for the marine industry. Our industry needs to attract new boaters to the hobby and lifestyle. Boating can be very intimidating. Docking in high winds, anchoring, passing scenarios in crowded waters, braving the open ocean, navigating Intracoastal waters, trying to adhere to COLREGS standards, and learning all of the systems on the boat are just a few examples of things that make boating intimidating. Well-designed, thoughtful, and intelligent driver assistance systems like "Smart Auto-Pilot," Radar Cruise Control, "Auto-Brake," and Auto-Docking lower the barrier to entry for new boaters. These features also help attract the next generation of boaters, who likely expect a level of automation similar to what they experience in their car every day.
The crash and death statistics reported by the USCG do not tell the whole story. Recreational boats are used in a very different capacity to cars. This article is not meant to directly compare the two industries. What the USCG data does show, is that the likelihood of a crash on a boat increases dramatically in congested areas. If we expect the industry to grow, by definition, areas near large ports, harbors, marinas, and popular destinations will get busier. More and more boaters will get caught out on the water at night or in bad weather. These are situations where adopting AI technology for marine collision avoidance solutions will help the industry grow. The edge cases. We can make boating safe, even when the water is crowded, the sea state is gnarly, or the weather is bad.
Can the recreational marine industry avoid catastrophe?
Can the recreational marine industry avoid a catastrophic catalyst to drive it towards ADAS technology adoption? It's an interesting thought to consider. We have all of the technology for recreational boats to avoid collisions on their own when the captain is inattentive, lacks visibility, or is driving under the influence. While not all ADAS features in cars are broadly accepted and welcome (hello weird self-parking capabilities and overly conservative guided cruise control), in general they have helped to eliminate catastrophic incidents.
There are many reasons the ADAS technology that helps prevent collisions is not broadly implemented in recreational boating: the cost of sensors at lower volumes, the complexity of using sensors in the marine environment, and a lack of incentive for adoption from either demand from boat buyers or from government regulation. At Tocaro Blue, we want to be an enabler of change. Our ProteusCore software is a solution that adds machine learning power to radar, turning it into a sensor capable of empowering collision-avoiding maneuvers and enhanced captain awareness. Marine radar is a cost-effective and capable sensor – and ProteusCore enhances radar's inherent benefits and makes up for many of its deficiencies.
The recreational marine industry has an opportunity to learn from ADAS implementation in the automotive industry. Introducing engaging and intuitive ADAS features that give boaters a sense of confidence and security, without taking away any perceived freedom or control of the vessel, is key. We are excited to support ADAS feature development with smart radar solutions. See you on the water!