Assisted Docking VR

Docking a yacht is where boat owners get nervous. Volvo Penta built Assisted Docking to make the difficult part more predictable; we built a way to try it before taking the helm.

Working with Rapid Images, we recreated Smögen on Sweden’s west coast at full scale in VR. Visitors navigate its harbour in weather ranging from clear sun to rough water, then bring a yacht safely alongside using Volvo Penta’s real Assisted Docking joystick as the controller.

The simulation had to preserve the physical judgement experienced boat owners expect while remaining clear enough for someone who has never handled a yacht. We modelled the boat’s response accurately, then used the assisted system to reveal what changes: less uncertainty, more control and a calmer route into harbour.

The experience was shown at World of Volvo in Gothenburg during 2024, turning maritime technology into something people could feel rather than watch.