Kongsberg Discovery has announced a strategic partnership with Viam, an artificial intelligence (AI) and automation company, to integrate AI into Kongsberg’s Simrad SY50 sonar, enhancing fish-finding capabilities.
The collaboration is designed to help commercial fishermen make more informed decisions at sea by improving sonar data interpretation, automating key settings, and connecting fleets to real-time insights.
The Simrad SY50 is a compact omnidirectional medium-frequency fish-finding sonar. With Viam’s AI technology, SY50 users can translate complex sonar data into actionable targets while the system automatically fine-tunes critical settings. The AI-driven enhancements also provide captains with instant access to cloud-connecting dates, offering a clearer view of underwater activity and allowing for smarter operational decisions.
“In many ways, we still have so much to learn about our oceans,” said Viam founder and CEO Eliot Horowitz. “Integrating Viam’s AI technology with Kongsberg’s cutting-edge SY50 sonars will help us reach a greater level of understanding and enable better connected, safer, and more sustainable oceans.”
The integration arrives at a pivotal time for the fishing industry, as operators face growing pressure to increase efficiency and meet stringent sustainability requirements. According to Kongsberg Discovery, Viam’s technology will allow fishermen to fish more precisely, reduce fuel consumption, and limit bycatch while also improving safety by enhancing navigation and weather awareness.
"Partnering with Viam provides an incredible opportunity to bring transformative AI technology into our sonar technology, benefitting fishing operations around the world," said Kongsberg Discovery's Martin Tollefsen. "With Viam, fleets gain real-time insight and can process data more efficiently, significantly improving efficiency and sustainability."
The partnership, which began with a pilot program earlier this year, is laying the groundwork for a broader AI-powered system. By leveraging real-time data, the technology could help forecast fish migration patterns, monitor populations for conservation, and transform marine resources management on a global scale.
Kongsberg Discovery’s long-standing investment in marine technology has positioned it as a leader in the industry, and the integration of AI represents a new frontier. “AI increasingly contributes to our products and solutions, complementing our understanding of physical phenomena is harsh marine environments,” added Tollefsen.
