Giovanni Soldini and Telecom Italia have been sharing a common challenge since 1996. This partnership -which has mankind as its protagonist- began with the sponsorship of the fifty-foot Open Stupefacente and continued with the transatlantic trimaran. Today, the capacity to innovate and look far into the future is key in this challenge.
It is hence a collaboration that is bringing about the realization and the installation of an array of technologically advanced onboard systems developed by Loquendo -the Telecom Italia Group company for speech technologies and services, and Servizi Radiomarittimi - one of Telecom Italia Domestic Wireline's Business Units.

Loquendo is providing its very own voice-commanded navigation system, which not only enables Giovanni Soldini to talk to his team, but also to activate and control his onboard equipment -helm included- using nothing other than his voice, in order to leave him free to move around the trimaran. During solo navigation this system is a valid substitute for the helmsman, especially when the skipper is far from the cockpit but needs to adjust his course.

The technological core of this innovative system consists of Loquendo's proprietary synthesis and recognition technologies, with which the skipper interacts through a radiotransmitter collar developed by Silicomp. This technology guarantees Soldini an easy means of communicating with his team and boosts the performance of his onboard navigation systems.

To reach this cutting edge result, Loquendo's researchers began by recording Giovanni Soldini saying a set of voice commands (for instance "veer left", "turn ship lights on/off"...), which were subsequently integrated within Loquendo's own speech recognition platform. In parallel, following a careful examination of onboard requirements and the critical issues linked to the use of headset during navigation, Silicomp provided a sophisticated ergonomic larynx-phone complete with earpiece, capable of offering high performance even in the most extreme cases of noise and exposure to the elements.

Once again, Telecom Italia Domestic Wireline has provided its wealth of expertise and technologies through Servizi Radiomarittimi, the sector dedicated to the nautical world.
The set of equipment, studied by Servizi Radiomarittimi in accordance with Soldini's requirements, combines the many needs of the skipper with those of the futuristic sailing boat, without ever compromising on the security requisites of those who push seafaring to its "limit".

For example, should rescue be required, the system automatically launches an sos signal thanks to the Epirb apparatus -without human intervention. Soldini navigates with support from high-tech positioning and data acquisition equipment such as GPS, Sonar, Weather fax-receiver and a radar receiver that signals other ships in the vicinity by means of an acoustic and luminous signal.
Particular attention has been paid to those aspects pertaining to racing and communication. The Red Shark Plotter/GPS, which was developed ad hoc, is characterised by software developed by C-Map according to Soldini's specific requirements.
Even in the most extreme circumstances, it is possible to communicate using the traditional means of VHF radio to stay in contact with coastal radio stations and other ships as well as satellite, in order to be located and assisted anywhere and at any time. The latter is possible thanks to Inmarsat C satellite phones (for data transmission) and Inmarsat Mini-M (for data and e-mail transmission).

For further information:
Loquendo - Press Office: tel. +39 06 36882588 - +39 011 2287569
Telecom Italia Domestic Wirline - Press Office: tel. +39 06 36882405