Siemens Digital Industries Software announced that Regent has adopted the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of cloud-based software and services to help pioneer a new category of vehicle called the »seaglider«.[ds_preview]
The seaglider is a high-speed zero emission vehicle that operates exclusively over the water to drastically reduce the time and cost of moving people and goods between coastal cities. As a manufacturer or OEM, Regent’s launch customers span aviation, ferry and logistics transportation operators.
The »seaglider« operates exclusively over the water as an all-electric wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) vehicle. It travels the sea in one of three modes—floating on its hull near the terminal, foiling on its hydrofoils at up to 40 knots as it comes in and out of port, or flying above the waves at 160 knots while cruising to its destination. When in flight, it operates a few meters off the surface of the water, relying on the ground effect phenomenon, flying on a cushion of air. It combines the high speed and comfort of an airplane with the low operating cost of an electric vehicle.
At the heart of its design, engineering and development toolset is the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, which has been fundamental to Regent since its founding in 2020. »At Regent we are focused on bringing a revolutionary new vehicle to the transportation market with the potential to change how both people and freight move over the water,« said Mike Klinker, CTO and cofounder. »As our seagliders approach certification and full-scale commercial production, we need a robust, modern digital tools platform that supports the pace of our innovation cycles.« This is why Siemens Xcelerator came into play, he says.
Regent’s flagship seaglider, the twelve-passenger »Viceroy«, will be built to the highest safety standards. It will be able to service routes up to 180 miles with existing battery technology and routes up to 500 miles with next-generation batteries, all via existing dock infrastructure. Additionally, its operation as a wing-in-ground effect vehicle above the water enables maritime testing and certification. This is an efficient pathway to entry-into-service, allowing customers to experience high-speed, zero-emission coastal mobility sooner than electric aviation options, while maintaining similar levels of safety.
»It’s not often that the revolution of mobility and electrification combine with such spectacularly innovative product design to address a specific challenge like the one faced by coastal communities across the globe,« said Dale Tutt, Vice President of Industry Strategy, Siemens Digital Industries Software.
Specifications
- Length 57.5 ft
- Height 15.5 ft
- Wing Span 65.0 ft
- Range 156 nm
- Payload (pax) 3,000 lbs
- Payload (cargo) 3,500 lbs
- Engine 120 kW
- Seating (Crew + Pax) 2 + 12
