Servo Yachts Unveils Martini 7.0 Catamaran Yacht With Revolutionary Suspension Technology to Combat Seasickness

Servo Yachts LLC ("Servo Yachts" or the "Company") today announced the introduction of the Martini 7.0, a 165-foot catamaran yacht with revolutionary technology that provides seasickness relief for passengers. Servo Yachts is founded by David Hall, founder of Velodyne Lidar, where he invented the 3D lidar vision system that spawned the development of autonomous vehicles, lidar companies and advanced robotics.

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Rendered image of Martini 7.0 (Photo: Business Wire)

Servo Yachts' Martini 7.0 was designed in conjunction with Shuttleworth Design, an award-winning, UK-based design consultancy that has been at the forefront of yacht design, engineering and naval architecture for more than 40 years. The Martini 7.0 incorporates revolutionary marine stabilization techniques that allow the yacht to glide more smoothly through the ocean, avoiding the kinds of motion that typically cause passengers to become seasick. The Company's electric suspension technology reacts in real-time to the sea's movement. In effect, the dual hulls manage and absorb the roll, pitch and heave motions induced by the ocean, providing increased levels of comfort for passengers.

According to the United States National Library of Medicine, 1 in 3 people are considered highly susceptible to motion sickness. However, almost everyone will become motion sick if exposed to intense movement.¹

Mr. Hall commented:

"Growing up, I spent my summers on my grandfather’s boat, where I developed a deep appreciation for marine travel. My grandfather, who was an engineer and scientist, encouraged my pursuit of invention and the sciences, which led me to spend more than 35 years in the field trying to combine mechanical and electrical engineering fundamentals to create solutions to problems we once thought were unsolvable. With the Martini 7.0, I believe we have found a way to solve seasickness and significantly improve the sailing experience so that everyone can enjoy traveling on the ocean. I am very excited for Servo Yachts to continue to push the boundaries of marine technology and transform ocean travel. Ideas for better ways to do things are always out there floating around, and it's up to us to find a way to make it happen."

Orion Shuttleworth, Managing Director and owner of Shuttleworth Design, commented:

“We are proud to work with David at Servo Yachts to design a new generation of seagoing vessels. It is exciting how his suspension technology can be applied to any type of marine craft for the advantage of many industries. We will see these on superyachts, day and work boats, ferries, navy transport craft, offshore transfer and Coast Guard search and rescue vessels, and more."

The Development and Technology of Martini 7.0

The Martini 7.0's unique suspension system connects the main cabin to two dynamic hulls, which adjust to the height and angle of the waves. The revolutionary design causes less drag than traditional yachts, resulting in a remarkably efficient vessel that is not only safe and comfortable, but faster in rough conditions.

The technology has been in development for over eight years and the Martini 7.0 is the next generation of a series of smaller prototype vessels, ranging from 17 feet to 45 feet, that have been developed and tested in San Francisco Bay. A variety of solutions have been explored and tested, including the Martini 6.0, a concept for a 150-foot high-speed catamaran yacht.

On the Martini 7.0, a new configuration was designed to maximize accommodation space, and the two hulls have been connected by four articulating mechanisms positioned at each corner of the suspended deck, which houses the main accommodation. A combination of pneumatic and electric rams adjust in real-time to keep the deck in a level position to control and safely absorb the roll, pitch and heave motions induced by the sea. The patented suspension technology, which minimizes seasickness and crew exhaustion, and enhances safety at all speeds, enables up to 12 feet of vertical travel in each hull. The result is a vessel that can move at high speed through an ocean swell with virtually no motion in the suspended deck where the crew and guests are located.

Like Mr. Hall’s 3D vision invention, the Martini 7.0's suspension system adjusts to feedback received in real-time based on a computer-automated electro-mechanical system. This technology is an active method and is much more effective than current passive marine stabilization devices which take more time to react to the motion of the sea. The Martini 7.0's system requires very little power and no warm-up time or complex vacuum systems, making it the most immediate, effective and safe option available.

As well as providing total stabilization, the system also has the unique ability to sync the motion of the suspended deck with another moving target, including when docking alongside a larger ship or recovering a smaller vessel at sea.

About Servo Yachts LLC

Servo Yachts LLC is founded by David Hall, a serial entrepreneur and inventor with a 35-year history of successful businesses and inventions. Hall founded Velodyne Acoustics in 1984 with numerous patents and inventions that revolutionized the audio industry. After competing as one of the original entrants in the DARPA Grand Challenge, Hall invented 3D lidar technology in 2005 to give autonomous vehicles real-time 360° vision. Having transformed 3D lidar technology into the thriving company that is Velodyne Lidar, Hall turned to businesses based on his new inventions, including the stabilization platform for Servo Yachts. Hall continues to work on developing innovative technologies that can address a wide range of challenges in the modern world. Learn more at www.servo-yachts.com.

About Shuttleworth Design

Shuttleworth Design is a multi-award-winning, UK-based, design consultancy that has been working with an international client base at the forefront of yacht design, engineering and naval architecture for over 40 years. Shuttleworth Design was one of the first yacht design companies to develop the idea of "integrated design," a way of approaching the engineering and overall design as an integrated whole rather than a series of parts joined together. The company pioneered the use of computer-aided design and has always been actively involved in research and development. This innovative approach has resulted in boats that are lighter, stronger, safer and more efficient, and has firmly established the company as a leader in its field. Learn more at www.shuttleworthdesign.com.

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¹https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/motion-sickness/#frequency

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