Vesper Marine introduces the world’s first touchscreen Class B AIS transponder with the introduction of the WatchMate Vision2.
The Vision2 is designed to complement any helm or nav station. It features a highly responsive, easy to use capacitive touchscreen, allowing users to scroll through menus, zoom in and out, select vessels for additional details and navigation data, change alarm settings and more. Its 5.7-inch colour display has excellent optical clarity over a wide viewing angle, even with polarised glasses.
The system also includes life saving features such as smartAIS alarms, DSC calling and faster GPS.
SmartAIS Technology
Driven by smartAIS technology, Vision2 combines navigation sensor data, GPS and AIS information with intelligent alert logic and triggers alarms in the event of hazardous situations. While traditional AIS transponders only send and receive AIS signals, Vesper Marine’s smartAIS units:
- continuously calculate crossing situations and generate collision alarms for critical navigation action;
- alert the crew of an anchor dragging;
- alert the crew of changes in wind speed, wind direction and water depth while at anchor; and
- activate alarms in case of a man overboard (MOB) with continuously updated positions for quick retrieval.
These capabilities are built right into the transponder and with an audible alarm these critical safety features do not rely on any other equipment.
Smartphone, Smartwatch and Tablet Connection
In addition to the audible alarm, the Vision2’s built-in NMEA gateway and Wi-Fi capability can communicate alerts as well as all transponder information to a user’s Android or iOS smartphone or tablet using the WatchMate App or their smartwatch using the deckWatch App. Vision2 enables up to eight devices to be connected simultaneously for greater flexibility and has the latest high-speed Wi-Fi technology for faster access.
