With radical developments in robotics, we look to the future to provide us with ways crew may soon be able to avoid the more mundane or uncomfortable tasks, which currently dominate workloads without providing much job satisfaction.
Robotic Assistance for ETO’s
We all know how hot engine and server rooms can get, why risk collapsing when you can send in a robot that has been built for operating in areas that are too dangerous for human rescue workers, to first put in place some emergency cooling devices. Tend to any server emergencies in comfort, not whilst drowning in sweat.
The Walk-Man is a humanoid robot that can interact with its surroundings and use human tools. It is over 6ft tall and uses a 3D laser scanner and a stereo vision system to help it navigate its surroundings. It uses both its upper and lower body to provide balance and generate motion, meaning it moves in a more ‘human’ way. Powered by a 2KWh battery and equipped with colour cameras, it can either operate autonomously using planning algorithms or can be controlled from a safe distance.
Does this man really exist? Is he Superyacht ready? Potentially yes, but this robot is not yet available on the market. Created by the University of Pisa and the Italian Institute of Technology and funded by the EU, the engineers behind it are currently trying to equip Walk-Man with more advanced cognitive abilities so that eventually it can work completely independently. Currently, a human operator is needed for more complicated tasks. However, demos of the robot show it is capable of walking and opening doors, and its large fingers and powerful limbs allow it to move heavy obstacles. This means it is likely capable of carrying a fan or two into the server room. The Walk-Man could also be useful for helping with general heavy-lifting around the yacht. More information can be found here: https://www.walkman.eu/
An extra pair of hands for Stews…
Stewards and stewardesses can get lost in the mountains of ironing. And no matter how beautiful the garments you are tending to, ironing can still be a bore, and the high-value of the clothes can often add extra stress. So, why not leave it to a robot who has a scientific way of knowing when all the creases are out, and won’t stop until it achieves this goal.
Wouldn’t it be incredible if this robot existed? He does…! His name is TEO, he uses a camera built into its head to create a 3D representation of the clothing and ironing board. It then decides on a number between zero and one, which signifies how wrinkly each point on the garment is. Zero represents a sharp edge, and one is a flat surface. Once it has removed all the creases using a calculated ironing trajectory, it goes over once again for extra wrinkle-removal.
Teo still needs human assistance to put the clothes on the ironing board for him, and is still in development and being constantly developed by a team at Carlos III University in Spain.
Cooking up a humanoid feast
Galleys on a superyacht are not always the most spacious. However, demand for a very wide variety of fresh food on offer, and for this to be delivered to guests as quickly as they want it, can sometimes present a challenge to busy chefs.
Moley has created the world’s first robotic kitchen. Featuring an advanced, fully functional robot integrated into a beautifully designed, professional kitchen, it cooks with the skill and flair of a master chef. The prototype was premiered to widespread acclaim at Hanover Messe, the international robotics show. The consumer version set for launch in late 2019 will be supported by a full recipe library. A pair of fully articulated robotic hands can reproduce the function of a human hand completely with the same speed, sensitivity, and movement as a chef, but how will it ever know just how much to season?
More information can be found here: https://www.moley.com/
Robotic scrubbing for the Deckhands …..
After a long hard, hot day entertaining the owner and guests, ensuring the floors are fully scrubbed is a job that all deckhands would want to pass onto their robot friend, who doesn’t run the risk of backache!
iRobot has produced a range of machines that can help humans avoid these floor-cleaning chores. Using iAdapt® 2.0 Navigation software with Visual Localisation, the robots can move around an entire level of your superyacht whilst keeping track of its location. It’s Braava Mopping Robot can sweep up to 1,000 square feet, and mop up to 350 square feet in a single cleaning cycle. With vacuum and mop options, the deck can be kept ship-shape.
Find out more here: https://www.irobot.com/
As robotics advance, they will take the jobs of some of the crew, but in such a personalised service industry, face to face human contact will always be required.
