Many of the world’s largest cities are located along coastlines or rivers. Hyke aims to make urban waterways as accessible as roads are to cars. “To achieve this ambitious goal, we must rethink our approach,” says Ola Hjukse, Chief Product Officer at Hyke. “Revolutionizing our perspective requires developing a system as user-friendly as an escalator in a shopping mall—seamless and efficient.” He emphasizes, “It should be continuous, like a tram arriving every two minutes, while at the same time keeping the unique and relaxing feeling of traveling at sea”

To achieve this continuous flow and ensure cost efficiency, the development of autonomous driving is crucial for an optimal end-user experience. However, achieving autonomous navigation requires taking a step back.

“Nowadays, everyone’s discussing the rise of AI and machines,” says Victor Rosenvinge, COO at Eker Design. “While it’s fascinating to many, replacing our human brain with a computer is incredibly challenging. We’re not just talking about our entire brain, but a tiny fraction of its capacity—our sight alone is extremely complex. Interpreting it alongside other senses and movements adds another layer of complexity.”

“After years of research and development, we’re introducing Hyke Sense PRO, a versatile system with a wide range of possibilities for current and future customers,” says Victor Rosenvinge. “For search & rescue vessels, it offers continuous 360-degree awareness of the vessel’s surroundings at sea. By integrating various sensors, our system detects, tracks, and classifies objects of all shapes and sizes around the vessel, prioritizing potential risks and noteworthy objects for safety and efficiency.”

Hyke Sense PRO utilizes computer vision and object detection algorithms to identify maritime targets, including targets not normally detected and tracked by convential systems and sensors such as kayaks, debris, logs, and people. All identified objects are tracked and prioritized based on potential risk and importance, enabling quick and confident action by the crew or automated response by the system.

“To meet the unique needs of specific sectors, custom applications can be built on the Hyke Sense PRO system,” Rosenvinge adds. “The first application, SMART SEARCH, developed in collaboration with the Rescue Society, is optimized for search and rescue operations.”

“To achieve autonomous navigation at sea or on rivers, we need to comprehend orientation, perception, interpretation, evaluation, and subsequent actions,” explains Rosenvinge. “For instance, autodocking requires considering not just sight but also interpreting movement, sound, dimensions, sea currents, and various other factors simultaneously.”

“As we strive to create self-driving passenger ferries like Hyke, understanding our surroundings and making sense of them is paramount,” says Rosenvinge. “It’s not merely about comprehending our separate senses; it’s about processing the collective outcome of all our senses to understand the world around us.”

This technology originates from Hyke’s development of the Time Magazine Best Innovation of the Year: the Hyke Smart City Water Shuttle, an autonomous ferry ecosystem. The interdisciplinary collaboration on the Smart Saver project with the Eker Group spans design, development, and technology.

After years of development, Hyke’s team has worked closely with Eker Design’s team to develop a cutting-edge system that will soon undergo trials in Fredrikstad in spring. Finally, we express our gratitude to our highly dedicated team, working tirelessly day and night to achieve our goals.

For questions regarding Hyke Sense Pro, contact Ola Hjukse at +47 91 55 46 48 or ola@hyke.no

If you want to discuss your project with us, please contact Victor Rosenvinge at +47 957 03 151 or victor@eker.no