REGENT and Siemens Collaborate for Revolutionary Zero-Emission Seaglider

Electric craft reduces time, cost between coastal cities

Published: Wednesday, August 24, 2022 - 11:58

(Siemens: Plano, TX) -- Siemens Digital Industries Software announced that REGENT has adopted the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of cloud-based software and services to help pioneer a new category of vehicle called the seaglider, a high-speed, zero-emission craft operating exclusively over water to drastically reduce the time and cost of moving people and goods between coastal cities.

With 40 percent of the world’s population living in coastal communities, REGENT’s electric seagliders will be the first to offer safe, low-cost, high-speed, zero-emission transportation for this segment. Launch customers include aviation, ferry, and logistics transportation operators.

The REGENT seaglider operates as an all-electric, wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) vehicle. It travels in one of three modes—floating on its hull near the dock, on its hydrofoils at up to 40 knots as it comes in and out of port, or flying above the waves at 160 knots while cruising to its destination.

When in flight, it operates a few meters off the surface of the water, relying on ground effect to fly on a cushion of air. It combines the high speed and comfort of an airplane with the low operating cost of an electric vehicle. Seagliders differ from past WIGs due to their hydrofoils, distributed electric propulsion, and aerospace fly-by-wire controls. These elements enable safe harbor operations, increased wave tolerance, and a comfortable passenger experience.

At the heart of its design, engineering, and development tool set is the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, which has been fundamental to REGENT since its founding in 2020.

“At REGENT, we are focused on bringing a revolutionary new vehicle to the transportation market with the potential to change how both people and freight move over the water,” says Mike Klinker, REGENT CTO and co-founder. “As our seagliders approach certification and full-scale commercial production, we need a robust, modern digital tools platform that supports the pace of our innovation cycles with the rigor to encompass a product as complex as ours. Siemens Xcelerator as a service was a perfect fit for a digital-first startup like ours. Cloud-native solutions, such as Teamcenter X, minimize administrative overhead and allow us to focus 100 percent on design, engineering, manufacturing, and innovation. Siemens’ valued collaboration and the subscription model provide significant cash flow benefits that are vital to any startup.”

REGENT's flagship seaglider, the 12-passenger Viceroy, will be built to the highest safety standards. It will be able to service routes up to 180 miles with existing battery technology, and routes up to 500 miles with next-generation batteries, all utilizing existing dock infrastructure. Additionally, its operation as a WIG vehicle above the water enables maritime testing and certification. This is an efficient pathway to entry-into-service, allowing customers to experience high-speed, zero-emission coastal mobility sooner than other electric aviation options while maintaining similar levels of safety.

“The revolution of both mobility and electrification is continuing at an exciting pace across the entire spectrum of the industry, but it’s not often that the two combine with such spectacularly innovative product design to address a specific challenge like the one faced by coastal communities across the globe,” says Dale Tutt, vice president of Industry Strategy, Siemens Digital Industries Software. “REGENT is pioneering innovative high-speed coastal transportation while targeting net zero from the very beginning. Our Xcelerator as a service portfolio is instrumental in helping them get there faster.” 

The Siemens Xcelerator portfolio helps companies of all sizes create and leverage digital twins that provide organizations with new insights, opportunities, and levels of automation to drive innovation. For more information on Siemens Digital Industries Software products and services, visit siemens.com/software.

Viceroy (shown here as a rendering) is REGENT’s flagship seaglider, a 12-passenger electric vehicle that operates exclusively over water sea in one of three modes: floating on its hull, traveling on a hydrofoil, or in ground-effect flight. Credit: REGENT.

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