When Boating Meets the Automobile
The Sea Drive Concept is the meeting of two giants of French industry - Bénéteau in the nautical sector and Peugeot in the automotive sector. The idea is to pool the technologies developed by each to design an "innovative" boat steering station. This demonstrator - functional by the way - has been developed by the Peugeot Design Lab and integrates into the Peugeot I-cockpit, the Ship Control technology developed by Bénéteau and which we were able to discover on the Gran Turismo 50 at the Cannes Yachting Festival.
"The idea is to group together the comfort equipment and the boat's parameters, to integrate connectivity within the same cockpit. It's an evolution of the cockpit." explains Edouard Bergevin, from Peugeot's marketing department.
This futuristic cockpit could equip sports cruisers, but also stars, such as Gran Turismo. But for the moment there is no question of it, as Sea Drive Concept is just an exercise in style, as Edouard Bergevin explained.
Using a concept that has proved its worth at Peugeot
The I-cockpit is "an architecture" developed by Peugeot and which, since 2012, equips many of the brand's cars. 4 million users have already been seduced by this driving position developed to provide the best driving experience. This system is also found on the Peugeot 208, 308 and 2008, and consists of 3 distinctive elements:
- Compact steering wheel The new "Slipstream" system: allows less range of motion during manoeuvres for greater manoeuvrability, speed and agility.
- Large touch screen The comfort controls: groups all the comfort controls and makes it easy to manage all the vehicle's equipment.
- Head-Up Handset The system is based on the "road ahead" principle: all the information is gathered in the driver's line of sight so that he or she does not take his or her eyes off the road. A function made possible by the reduced steering wheel.
"It is thanks to the specificity of the Peugeot Design Lab, where designers and ergonomists work (not only for the car brand, but also for major brands) that we have been able to marry the two worlds" explains Édouard Bergevin.
Combining Bénéteau's Ship Control technology
Ship Control technology was discovered in September 2017 at the Cannes Yachting Festival, on the Gran Turismo 50. This intuitive and tactile interface - inspired by car on-board computers - makes it possible to group together the boat's functionalities, working on the basis of multiplexing. "The aim is to make boating accessible to as many people as possible and to improve the customer experience by making it easier for them to manage their boating and life on board." explains Anne Gourcuff, Communications Project Manager.
From a navigation screen or any tablet over 7 inches connected to the boat's internal WiFi, you can simply set several parameters: air conditioning, lighting, navigation page, Hi-fi, fluids (black water...), rev counter, control..
An easy-to-use cockpit
On the demonstrator, we were able to find out what the Sea Drive Concept looked like. On one side is the "piloting" and on the other is the "comfort", and you just have to switch from one to the other with piano keys, in a very simple way. Everything is touch-sensitive and the functions can be accessed directly via a 17-inch screen. The shelf installed above the steering wheel is detachable and can be used as an extension of the Ship Control. So you can use it even if you're in the cockpit or on the front deck of the boat.
