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A Turnkey HMI Solution for Passionate Mariners
Foilone builds PEGASUS, a unique carbon fiber hydrofoil boat combining iconic elegance and contemporary boldness to create a design that is both a tribute to the past and a bold stride into the future.
Looking for an off-the-shelf unit for the driver HMI, Foilone had challenges with their legacy system in achieving flexibility, data points for development, and a branded look and feel.
By moving to Qt Accelerate the team got a ready-made, easily deployable product offering rapid integration with the boat's infrastructure and a wide range of opportunities for branding and customization.
Learn how Qt Accelerate helps the Marine Industry fast-track HMI development with out-of-the-box solutions that are deployed in a week while remaining open for upgrades and customization.
90%
Out-of-the-box implemented
5
Days time-to-value
0
Lines of custom code
Meeting Usability and Development Demands
At the heart of PEGASUS' maneuverability is a cutting-edge, in-house-developed steering system designed to enhance the unique dynamics of foiling. An electric engine combined with hydrofoils eliminates annoying sounds for an immersive water experience.
Such advanced features require dedicated tooling and solutions not only for the end-user experience but also for the development phase. Having purchased an off-the-shelf B&G screen, Foilone's development team was limited by the available functionality, without control over the parameters displayed, let alone over the look-and-feel and advanced features to be implemented.
During boat's development, we need to see RPM, torque, power status, range, engine temperature, and most of this information was simply not available on our B&G screen. Said Mr Heinonen.
This was the perfect stage for Foilone's team to replace the B&G screen with a better solution. Earlier it would have added unnecessary variables. This is when they decided to use Qt Accelerate.
By focusing first on the core systems and introducing the Qt Accelerate HMI solution later, our team ensured that the powertrain's performance wasn’t compromised. He continues.
Qt Accelerate's Way of Working
Not all companies have in-house expertise for developing from the ground up a vehicle's OS and HMI—and in any case, it's wise to rely on a solid foundation for such a task. The base functionality included in Qt Accelerate, combined with customizable templates, enables rapid iterations while allowing the team to focus on fine-tuning the interface. This is how Qt Accelerate delivers quick time-to-value even to companies without in-house expertise. Typically, the goal is not just to deliver a functional HMI but to provide a platform that can evolve with customer feedback and future needs.
The templates and base functionality in Qt Accelerate allow us to quickly tweak and iterate. It’s a ready-made backbone that can be customized to match our needs. Says Mr Heinonen
Qt Accelerate offers a range of pre-designed templates tailored for various industries and applications, aiding companies in quickly initiating their HMI development. For Foilone, this consisted of a marine navigation system, including ORCA maps, Analytics, OTA updates, and a Companion app, in addition to more typical visualizations of the boat's data points.
In a boot camp that lasts less than a week, Qt experts work alongside designers, engineers, and the product team to bring their vision to reality with a working prototype that is 90% complete and a clear path to taking the solution to market.
The responsiveness and understanding from the Qt Accelerate team were impressive. They worked through legacy systems and complex gateways to deliver exactly what we needed. Says Mr Heinonen.
Customization and Branding
While providing a quick time-to-market via ready-made templates, Qt Accelerate poses no limits to creativity. Built on Qt Framework, these templates enjoy full flexibility in terms of look-and-feel, internationalization, and extensibility.
It’s great to have the UI match our colors and themes. We loved how the interface aligns with our brand and offers flexibility. Being able to easily adapt colors and themes to match customer preferences is a game-changer. Sais Mr Heinonen.
Qt Accelerate platform enables easily porting of a company's own look-and-feel to the display, and even personalization at scale in case Foilone needs to adjust the UI for individual customers or market segments.
For Foilone, the result is a platform for continuous improvement leveraging user data to refine future iterations.
You can use real-world feedback to decide what features to keep and what to remove, he said.
As Foilone's product line grows, the team sees further opportunities for customization and scalability. The current HMI can easily be adapted to new models, preserving core functionalities but also adding others for different types of boats. Mr Heinonen envisions a future where customer feedback directly informs design decisions, making the product even more tailored to market needs.
Expand the frontiers of freedom
Foilone's mission is to challenge ourselves to break free from routines and embrace the unknown. Growth and fulfillment come from pushing boundaries and exploring new horizons. We strive to expand the frontiers of freedom, ensuring the seas are open for all, while preserving a healthy, thriving planet for future generations. Join us in our quest to innovate, inspire, and create a sustainable future where adventure and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.
