Given our smart homes and smart devices, we expect our yachts to be just as control-friendly. Thankfully, plenty of superyacht AV suppliers can set up iPads and more to control music, lighting, and other creature comforts. The problem is, though, most of the software supporting those controls is proprietary. Therefore, if you switch AV suppliers, the new company may not readily know the code. This may lead to a lot of lost time, and money. Likewise, if the programmer at the original AV company leaves, you may be stuck if something goes wrong, or you want to upgrade. Enter Fusion Marine Systems (FMS), whose Fusion Air App uses open standard software.
Open standard software is just what it sounds like: a common platform. Consider it the equivalent of a universal language. As Will Faimatea, FMS’ co-founder, says, this allows quick development and deployment. “This is especially valuable for refits, which typically allow for less development time than new-build projects,” he explains.
Paul Cook, FMS’ CEO, adds, “Rather than bespoke and specifically written for every separate yacht, we have a common structure that is then customized for each yacht.” He continues, “Our approach is therefore much easier to deploy, and we can conduct much of the programming in a cost-efficient office before we step onboard a yacht for the installation and commissioning.”
The FMS team is so confident in the Fusion Air App because it’s already proven. The firm’s parent company, Fusion Automation, develops similar systems for residences. It spent a reported 50,000 hours of development time for a residential control system akin to the Fusion Air App. So, it leveraged that experience in bringing the app to the superyacht market.
The Fusion Air App is already onboard one of the world’s largest yachts, too. FMS integrated it for the owner’s Crestron system. Furthermore, FMS set it up in a specific Arabic dialect on the owner’s devices. When (because it’s never “if”) the owner wants to change a function or, say, a television, it’s no trouble. FMS can access the yacht remotely to make the software changes.
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