Rolls Royce Remote Operating Center
Rolls Royce Marine - 2017
Award-winning design concept, which has the aim to demonstrate the opportunities with remote piloting. We collaborated with Rolls Royce Marine to create a land-based control center. On completion, a real tug boat was operated from the demo unit.
Concept & ideation
Mock up
Industrial design
Prototyping
CMF
Final demo management
Visualization
Services:
Turning concept into reality
To showcase the potential of remote piloting, we supported Rolls Royce as part of a cross-disciplinary team. Together, we established a remote operation center from which we operated an actual Tug Boat, demonstrating the capabilities and advantages of remote piloting technology.
Our initial challenge involved determining which "analog features" should transition into the "digital" remote environment. Additionally, we investigated multiple opportunities to enhance captain ergonomics, promoting increased alertness during operation.
The optimal ergonomics were validated and tested with rounds of mock-ups and real driving equipment. The fully functioning prototype was presented and used to operate the Tug-Boat in Copenhagen harbor.
The world’s first remotely-operated commercial vessel
History was made when the world’s first remotely-operated vessel was unveiled and demonstrated in Copenhagen.
Space age technology
The final design was a mix of functional requirements and Rolls Royce form language. They also wanted the prototype to have a futuristic feel as it was the first of kind in the marine industry.
Northern Works was the essential Industrial Design supplier and supported the Rolls Royce in-house team from the initial ideation to the final design and CAD model. NW also managed the physical prototype build. (Hardware and software development was overseen by Rewake.)
The project was rewarded with a Red Dot Award.
Saw something interesting? Let’s get in touch.
We’ll make your vision a reality. No vision? We’ll make it too.