(Photo: Josh Valcarcel/Wired)
This is the Martini 1.5, an innovative boat design by Velodyne Marine. As it whips across the waves at high speed, the deck remains level. That's because the Martini has an active suspension system that adjusts as the pontoons rise and fall. The boat can stay level in 5.5-foot waves at speeds of up to 30 MPH. Alex Davies of Wired explains how it works:
Each corner, where the arm meets the hull, has a linear accelerometer, a pneumatic airbag, and a DC servo motor. To match the movement of the ocean, detected by the accelerometer, the motor turns a ball screw that pushes or pulls the control arm, lowering and raising that end of the hull as necessary.
Velodyne is working on a model that will have two larger hulls closer together, but working independently. This will permit the boat to carry a much larger cabin.