Automation
Measured shape sent to the controller: your sails trimmed in a closed loop.
Wind-assisted ships, superyachts: the real shape of the sails, measured by LiDAR, relayed to the Madintec controller that drives rams and electric winches.
Services
An onboard system, linked to the controller
Onboard system
A closed loop needs permanent measurement: the system is permanently installed, calibrated and commissioned by Sail Controls, then linked to the Madintec MADBrain unit.
01
Study
Technical case study, specification and simulation; sensor mounts designed for the boat.
02
Integrate
Sensors calibrated in our lab, integration kit and software configured for your programme. Installation and commissioning of the system on board by Sail Controls; your team or our approved partners can then run it day to day.
03
Calibrate
A short sail calibrates the sensors under real load, during crew training.
04
Sail
Sail shape in real time on your onboard electronics; first performance baselines recorded, remote support in place.
Trim on the shape, not on the controls
On a wind-assisted ship or a superyacht, rams and electric winches trim the sails. Sail Controls gives their controller what no control position tells it: the real shape of each sail, measured continuously.
Real-time measurement and its link to the Madintec MADBrain unit already exist: in offshore racing, the first integrations with the autopilot are being tested.
Driving the actuators from the measured shape is the next step: we are taking it forward as pilot projects, vessel by vessel.
What the closed loop changes
A shape set point
The controller trims on the measured shape of the sail, not only on the position of its controls.
Every correction checked
The shape is measured continuously: the next measurement confirms the effect of each adjustment.
Track deformation
Measured in operation, the shape also reveals how the sails evolve over time.
Integrated into the vessel
Data sent in a protocol compatible with the vessel's systems; an API opens it to your own tools.
The control loop
Sail Controls measures the shape of the sails; the Madintec controller derives the actuator commands; the trimmed sail is measured again.
Sail Controls
Shape measured by LiDAR
MADBrain
Madintec controller
Actuators
Rams, electric winches
Accuracy measured while sailing, under real load. And improving every season.
First integration offered as a pilot project.
Frequently asked questions
Where does sail automation stand today?
Every building block exists: real-time measurement, its link to the MADBrain unit, being tested in offshore racing, and the Madintec controller. Integrating them to drive the actuators is carried out as a pilot project, vessel by vessel.
Who does what?
Sail Controls measures the shape of the sails and sends its indicators in real time. Madintec, with its MADBrain unit, links this data to the commands of the onboard actuators.
Which actuators can be driven?
Rams, electric winches and other onboard actuators: their integration is defined during the feasibility study.
Which sails can you measure?
Feasibility is assessed project by project: soft sail or wing, dimensions and possible sensor placement.
Who owns the data?
You do. The data collected remains your exclusive property and is used only for your project; Sail Controls may only aggregate anonymous technical metrics from it, to improve the product.
Let's start a pilot project
Ship or yacht, sail type, actuators in place: tell us about your project.
Start a pilot project