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Seaglider pioneer selects Siemens cloud-based software
Thursday, 11 August 2022
Regent is pioneering innovative high-speed coastal transportation while targeting net zero from the very beginning. Siemens' Xcelerator as a Service portfolio could be instrumental in helping them get there faster.

Seaglider developer Regent has adopted the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of cloud-based software and services to help pioneer what it describes as a new category of vehicle. The seaglider is a high-speed zero emission vehicle that operates exclusively over water to drastically reduce the time and cost of moving people and goods between coastal cities.

“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, cto and cofounder of Regent. “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 per cent on design, engineering, manufacturing, and innovation. Siemens' valued collaboration and the subscription model provide significant cash flow benefits that are vital to any startup.”

Dale Tutt, vp of industry strategy at Siemens Digital Industries Software is delighted to be working with Regent: “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.

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

When in flight, it operates a few metres off the surface of the water, relying on the ground effect phenomenon, flying on a cushion of air. It combines the high speed and comfort of an aeroplane 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.

Regent's flagship seaglider, the 12-passenger Viceroy, 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 via existing dock infrastructure. Additionally, its operation as a wing-in-ground effect 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 electric aviation options, while maintaining similar levels of safety.

With 40 per cent of the world's population living in coastal communities, Regent's electric seagliders could be the first vehicles to offer safe, low-cost, high-speed, zero-emission vehicles for this segment. As a manufacturer or OEM, Regent's launch customers span aviation, ferry, and logistics transportation operators.

Contact details from our directory:
Siemens Digital Industries Software Inc. (was Siemens PLM Software) Computer-aided Design, Computer-aided Engineering, Computer-aided Simulation, Product Lifecycle Management
Regent Airframer
Related aircraft programs:
REGENT Seaglider
Related directory sectors:
Computer Integrated Manufacturing