Simrad Marine Electronics has taken out a 2026 CES Picks Award in the TWICE Picks category for its AutoCaptain autonomous boating system, a recognition that marks a genuine leap forward in recreational marine technology.
The CES Picks Awards are judged by an expert editorial panel and celebrate the most compelling innovations on show at CES each year. AutoCaptain earned its place among the winners for bringing full auto docking capability, covering docking, undocking, and precise short-range manoeuvring, to a commercially available system.
At the heart of AutoCaptain is real-time 360-degree situational awareness that allows the system to autonomously handle low-speed manoeuvres in tight marinas and demanding conditions. Wind, current, and nearby obstacles are all continuously accounted for, yet the skipper remains in full command at the helm throughout.
What sets AutoCaptain apart from many competing approaches is its independence from GPS waypoints or pre-mapped locations. Arriving at an unfamiliar berth or a marina the vessel has never visited before presents no obstacle, because the system reads and adapts to the environment dynamically. It can also hold a vessel firmly against a dock while the crew gets lines and fenders ready, removing the time pressure that often makes this stage of coming alongside stressful.
The system was developed in close collaboration with Mercury Marine and integrates directly with Mercury's advanced propulsion systems and joystick controls. A network of cameras feeds into real-time processing, with everything monitored through a Simrad display to create a single, unified control experience. As a factory-integrated solution rather than an aftermarket addition, AutoCaptain fits within the vessel's existing design without compromise, delivering a level of precision that bolt-on systems struggle to replicate.
Simrad has built AutoCaptain as a scalable platform, with the architecture designed to accommodate future enhancements as autonomous capability continues to develop. Currently it is available on select Boston Whaler 405 Conquest models, and broader availability across other boatbuilder partnerships is planned.
The CES Picks Awards editorial team noted that the 2026 winners represent technology with the power to transform entire industries, pointing to the combination of innovation, ingenuity, and real-world application that each recognised product brings.
