Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SCOUT (Smart Monitoring COntrol and User interactive ecosystem for improving energy efficiency andeconomic maintenance of Medium-WeighT Ships)
Période du rapport: 2017-08-01 au 2018-01-31
"SCOUT is focused on a very interesting niche market, with a potential revenue in the European market of almost 200M€, much more if a worldwide market is considered.
This technology system, installable in vessels of any age, with relatively low cost of installation and maintenance, performs a thorough in-depth analysis of the working conditions of a fleet. This analysis is carried out using low cost sensors placed in the critical elements of the mechanic of the vessels, that sensor parameters such as pressure, temperature, torque, turning speed, etc. Based on this data a set of very advanced algorithms is applied in order to infer patterns of behaviour, both mechanical or staff, which can predict a mechanic fault or a misbehaviour. All these patterns with two main objectives, maintenance costs reduction, and fuel waste reduction.
SCOUT intends to be the ""intelligence"" carried to the operations with small and medium weighted vessels. This technology optimizes by sensing, analysing and reporting the movements and operations of these fleets. We focus in three main lines:
"" Maintenance costs optimization. By means of predictive maintenance sustained in a very deep analysis of working conditions of the machines.
"" Fuel consumption reduction in operations. By means of analysis and comparison of the Captain's driving techniques, guiding with simple instructions to the Captain.
"" Fleet management optimization. By means of very detailed performance reports where Heads of maintenance and administration can clearly evaluate their vessels and their personal.
"
This technology system, installable in vessels of any age, with relatively low cost of installation and maintenance, performs a thorough in-depth analysis of the working conditions of a fleet. This analysis is carried out using low cost sensors placed in the critical elements of the mechanic of the vessels, that sensor parameters such as pressure, temperature, torque, turning speed, etc. Based on this data a set of very advanced algorithms is applied in order to infer patterns of behaviour, both mechanical or staff, which can predict a mechanic fault or a misbehaviour. All these patterns with two main objectives, maintenance costs reduction, and fuel waste reduction.
SCOUT intends to be the ""intelligence"" carried to the operations with small and medium weighted vessels. This technology optimizes by sensing, analysing and reporting the movements and operations of these fleets. We focus in three main lines:
"" Maintenance costs optimization. By means of predictive maintenance sustained in a very deep analysis of working conditions of the machines.
"" Fuel consumption reduction in operations. By means of analysis and comparison of the Captain's driving techniques, guiding with simple instructions to the Captain.
"" Fleet management optimization. By means of very detailed performance reports where Heads of maintenance and administration can clearly evaluate their vessels and their personal.
"
This phase I project has allowed a very detailed analysis of the target market to which the technology is focused.
The analysis has also evaluated the SCOUT solution for other vessels than the previously stated for tugboats, so an increased market objective could be reached with the same technology.
Very important contacts with potential clients of different types of markets have been made. These contacts have unmasked strengths and weakness of the product, important new features and functionalities to be included and important characteristics already available that are to be enhanced. For example, the fact that, from the fleet operator point of view, it is more important the predictive maintenance than the fuel consumption reduction itself, because unexpected failures are more expensive and specially more dangerous, for the vessel itself and for the environment in terms of catastrophic consequences of the failure, than fuel waste.
The analysis has also evaluated the SCOUT solution for other vessels than the previously stated for tugboats, so an increased market objective could be reached with the same technology.
Very important contacts with potential clients of different types of markets have been made. These contacts have unmasked strengths and weakness of the product, important new features and functionalities to be included and important characteristics already available that are to be enhanced. For example, the fact that, from the fleet operator point of view, it is more important the predictive maintenance than the fuel consumption reduction itself, because unexpected failures are more expensive and specially more dangerous, for the vessel itself and for the environment in terms of catastrophic consequences of the failure, than fuel waste.
An emerging company with a good product in a very attractive market is the most expected result of this project.
SCOUT and its technology is a step beyond itself in terms of making possible an optimization of what is already constructed and working instead of throwing it to the trash and build it again. It is focused in the optimized exploitation of what is nowadays the existing equipment. Current state of the art is focused in optimizing new equipment and new vessels, leaving aside the old vessels assuming they are to be dismantled. But Scout and its technology takes care of old vessels, providing a way to optimize its performance during their last years, increasing this way their lifespan.
The potential expected impact then is to reduce the impact, both economic and ecological, of current fleets of working vessels built many years ago and which will still work for many other years.
SCOUT and its technology is a step beyond itself in terms of making possible an optimization of what is already constructed and working instead of throwing it to the trash and build it again. It is focused in the optimized exploitation of what is nowadays the existing equipment. Current state of the art is focused in optimizing new equipment and new vessels, leaving aside the old vessels assuming they are to be dismantled. But Scout and its technology takes care of old vessels, providing a way to optimize its performance during their last years, increasing this way their lifespan.
The potential expected impact then is to reduce the impact, both economic and ecological, of current fleets of working vessels built many years ago and which will still work for many other years.