Raymarine (www.raymarine.com), developer and manufacturer of electronic equipment for the recreational boating and light commercial marine markets, debuted at the 2005 Miami International Boat Show the industry's first wirelessly controlled autopilot, SmartPilot S1000. Embedded with ZigBee-ready (www.zigbee.org) wireless chips and networking software from Ember Corp. (www.ember.com), the S1000 promises easy installation with virtually no wiring, and years-long operation on AAA batteries. From anywhere on the craft, boaters can select to steer a straight course, go direct to a waypoint, or choose a programmed fishing or trolling pattern, as well as monitor their marine electronics.
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Among land-based applications for wireless sensors, commercial building automation is key. According to a new market research report by IDG World Expo (www.idgworldexpo.com), wireless sensor hardware and software developers that develop, market, and sell products now to address specific needs in the commercial structure market will likely find a ready pipeline of customers. "Wireless Sensing Solutions: Roadmap to Selling to the Commercial Structure Market" compiles research from personal, in-depth telephone interviews with a large sample and a broad range of commercial structure buyers, including property managers (25%) and engineers (23%).