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University of Illinois students make waves at CES with autonomous boating innovations

University of Illinois students make waves at CES with autonomous boating innovations

Photo: Shutterstock


LAS VEGAS, NV (Chambana Today) — Students from the University of Illinois are making a splash at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, as their innovative work in autonomous boating takes center stage. Interns from the Boating Intelligence Design Lab at the University of Illinois are showcasing groundbreaking technology they helped develop, partnering with Brunswick Corporation, the world’s largest marine technology company.

The highlight of their presentation is an immersive 200° Virtual Reality Simulator, featuring AI-powered autonomy that assists boaters with route planning, docking, and situational awareness. This simulator, developed with input from the Illinois students, delivers an advanced, interactive experience designed to make boating easier and safer.

The Boating Intelligence Design Lab, a key part of Illinois’ push into autonomous technology, is accelerating Brunswick’s ACES strategy (Autonomy, Connectivity, Electrification), which is focused on revolutionizing recreational boating. The students, whose contributions include developing autonomy behaviors and advanced AI systems, are gaining real-world experience while pushing the envelope on the future of marine technology.

Brunswick’s CES 2025 exhibit highlights the growing collaboration between the University of Illinois and the marine industry, where student-led research and technology are driving new advancements. The Student Innovation Spotlight at CES will allow Illinois students to present their work directly to the tech world, helping to shape the future of boating with autonomous systems designed to enhance safety, efficiency, and accessibility.

With a long history of developing top-tier talent in STEM fields, the University of Illinois continues to be a leader in technology innovation and industry partnerships.

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