SEA.AI Integrated Sentry With SmartVIEW Searchlights
The collaboration automates target tracking, reducing the manual workload for maritime crews during search operations.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Robotics
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SEA.AI and The Carlisle & Finch Co. have announced the integration of the Sentry AI-based detection system with the SmartVIEW Gateway. This integration enables searchlights to automatically track targets identified by thermal and low-light cameras.
Why it matters
By automating the synchronization between sensor detection and illumination, this integration prevents operators from having to manually steer searchlights during critical navigation tasks. The development addresses the operational burden on maritime crews needing to manage steering while keeping targets lit.
The system links the Sentry platform—an AI-driven array of thermal and low-light cameras—with the SmartVIEW Gateway. This hardware interface enables automated motor control of legacy and current Carlisle & Finch searchlights, aligning the beam with real-time target data.
The players
SEA.AI
A technology provider specializing in AI-driven machine vision and sensor fusion for maritime object detection.
The Carlisle & Finch Co.
A long-standing manufacturer of maritime lighting systems and high-intensity searchlights in operation since 1894.
The details
The SmartVIEW Gateway acts as a bridge, receiving object coordinates directly from the Sentry system. Once a target is selected on the operator screen, the gateway signals the searchlight motors to rotate and tilt to maintain continuous illumination. This process automates a task that traditionally requires manual joystick adjustment by the bridge officer.
Timeline
The Carlisle & Finch Co. began manufacturing searchlights in 1894.
The companies announced the integration on September 24, 2026.
The integrated system will be presented at the NMEA Conference & Expo from September 29 to October 1, 2026.
The Tech Race
This integration follows a pattern set by NMEA hardware integration standards regarding how marine devices communicate across different manufacturers. It represents a shift toward consolidating disparate navigation and safety sensors into unified automated workflows.
Maritime operators will see automated tracking functionality for existing and future Carlisle & Finch searchlights when paired with the Sentry system. The system enables crew members to focus on navigation during emergency operations while the light remains locked on a detected target.
The takeaway
This development marks a transition from manual searchlight operation to sensor-slaved, AI-driven illumination for maritime safety. Watch for performance data during the NMEA Conference & Expo demonstration to gauge the tracking latency of the integrated system.
What happens next
The companies will hold a public demonstration of the integrated system at the 2026 NMEA Conference & Expo, held at the Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront in Rockwall, Texas, from September 29 to October 1, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the evolution of automated maritime systems, visit Robotics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hellenic Shipping News.
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