Seawing

Seawing integrated solution combines kite-technology with an automated flight control system developed by the aerospace industry to harness the power of the wind. Safe, clean, reliable and compact, the system can be used easily by virtually any commercial ship to reduce emissions and fuel consumption by an average of 20%.

Software

Our control interface enables automated operations and monitoring of Seawing from the wheelhouse. Our EcoRouting solution, allows the ship to benefit from weather opportunities to maximise fuel savings through :

our advanced Digital Twin technology
a route optimization algorithm, developped by our partner Maxsea, which optimises the ship’s route according to the weather forecast while maintaining the planned ETD and ETA.
user-friendly procedures, adapted to real ship operations

Hardware

Seawing hardware consists of three parts:

The bridge equipment oversees the operation and monitoring of Seawing, as well as the EcoRouting system.

The deck equipment enables the automated take-off and landing of the parafoil wing. It consists of a mast, trolleys, winches, and a storage space. The wing is pulled out of the storage by the trolley system, before being inflated at the top of the mast for take-off.

The flying equipment, which includes the parafoil wing, a flight control pod and an umbilical cable, controls the automated and optimal flight of the wing. The wing is linked to the pod, which in turn is linked to the ship via the umbilical cable, handling traction, transferring data and providing power to the pod. During the flight, the pod steers the wing to maximise the power of the system and ensure safety.

Installation

Airseas’ Seawing technology requires minimal deck space and is bolt-mounted, making it easy to retrofit during a short port stay. It does not interfere with cargo operations, is not limited by height restrictions, and can be installed on virtually all ship types.

Parafoil technology: The most efficient way to harness the power of the wind.

Our mission is to harness the power of wind, and two unique features allow it, enabling over 20% fuel and GHG savings:

Seawing flies at an altitude of over 200m to harness steadier and stronger winds.

Seawing flies dynamically on a figure-on-8 trajectory at over 100km/h, which generates 10 times more traction power than a static kite or sail.

100% automation guaranteed by our digital Twin technology

Leveraging our aeronautical expertise, Airseas has developed an advanced automation system that manages all aspects of the wing’s operation and optimises the vessel’s routing. The kite and ship are entirely recreated in a simulation model, which acts as a “digital twin” for the physical system. Equipped with various sensors (inertial unit, GPS, anemometer, etc…) the physical system is in constant dialogue with the digital model, with updates every 300 milliseconds to guarantee the most efficient use of the system.

Our digital twin technology places the kite in its ideal flight window to maximise traction power and fuel savings. Based on digitally calculated scenarios, the wing adjusts its position depending on the wind direction and speed, as well as the ship speed and route. This optimises performance, thereby reducing engine effort and generating maximum savings.