Virtual Watchkeeper: PrecisionPilot

HydroSurv is building a smarter autopilot—called PrecisionPilot—for small and midsized battery-electric and battery-hybrid uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), and will deliver a factory-tested prototype. Current autopilots and mission management systems for these vessels are not advanced enough to handle complex operations reliably, and operator fatigue remains a serious problem. PrecisionPilot addresses this by putting human-centred design at the core: the front-end interface is being developed specifically to reduce cognitive load and fatigue for the remote operator, not just to add technical features. If successful, the project will produce a fully functional prototype and a comprehensive design pack that proves compliance with UK regulations for remotely operated uncrewed vessels, including the UK Workboat Code and the forthcoming MiniMASS Code. This could accelerate the safe adoption of uncrewed vessels for tasks like offshore survey, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure inspection—replacing crewed boats on dirty, dangerous, or dull missions. The impact is on maritime operations and supply chains, not on everyday consumer life.