Toyota partners with Boston-based Sea Machines Robotics to focus on investing in autonomous ships along with Brunswick Corp, through investment partner TechNexus Venture Collaborative, NextGen VP, Geekdom Fund, Launch Capital, LDV Capital and others.
Namely, as announced by Toyota Al Ventures on December 17, a new venture capital subsidiary of the Toyota group, the $10 million investment highlights one of the largest venture rounds for a marine and maritime-focused technology company and brings the total capital Sea Machines has raised to $12.5M.
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Toyota Al Ventures stated that autonomy can help reduce maritime collisions, increase fuel efficiency, operate long hours without distraction, and execute difficult and dangerous missions.
Moreover, Sea Machines is on the time being developing navigation assistance technology for a variety of vessels, including containerships.
In the first quarter of 2019, the company is to test perception and situational awareness technology aboard one of Maersk’s newbuild ice-class containerships.
Finally, in October, Sea Machines released its introductory line of autonomous command and remote control systems highlighting that autonomous vessel technology isn’t a thing of the future, but is already here and at work in waterways around the world.
