Finnish wind assisted propulsion system (WAPS) company Norsepower has announced the successful testing of its next-generation control system, known as Norsepower Sentient Control (NPSC), onboard two ocean-going vessels.
The system, which leverages advanced AI and data-driven optimisation, has demonstrated a performance improvement of 8.2% and 20.6% compared to traditional control systems. The performance tests were conducted onboard two vessels operating along different trade routes and equipped with distinct rotor sail configurations. These on-off comparisons revealed that NPSC consistently outperformed traditional control systems. The most significant gains were seen on vessels operating multiple Norsepower rotor sails, where sail interaction dynamics were better optimised by the system’s adaptive algorithms.
Heikki Pöntynen, CEO Norsepower, said: “This is a major milestone for the wind propulsion industry. For the first time, we can show that AI-powered control doesn’t just barely work — it unlocks considerably higher savings and smarter operations. The data speaks for itself. With Norsepower Sentient Control, our customers are not only saving more fuel, but they’re also gaining a measurable advantage in the regulatory landscape. This is the real beginning of digital wind propulsion.”
NPSC is now available to all existing and future Norsepower customers. The system integrates Norsepower’s patented rotor sail force feedback with machine learning, enabling precise control, real-time performance insights, and continuous system adaptation based on vessel-specific aerodynamic characteristics and environmental conditions.
Key features include:
- NPRS Force Feedback: Delivers accurate force measurement for smarter control decisions.
- Machine learning optimisation: Continuously improves performance by adapting to individual vessel dynamics and operational data.
- NPRS Power management: Allocates energy efficiently based on Specific Fuel Oil Consumption (SFOC) models.
- Real-time hydrodynamic optimization: Considers lateral forces and rudder compensation for improved manoeuvrability and fuel economy.
- Comprehensive voyage optimisation: Customises routing recommendations using vessel-specific performance models.
Pöntynen said: “Being able to measure and prove actual, rather than only modelled, performance is a gamechanger. This isn’t just digital icing on the cake. It’s core to extracting full value from every rotor sail. The Norsepower Sentient Control adapts to vessel design route, and operating conditions in an unmatched way — and we believe the best results are still to come.”
NPSC is a major part of the Norsepower Digital Dimension — a full-stack digital ecosystem that includes the Norsepower Cloud, enabling secure data collection, emissions tracking, and fleet-wide savings optimisation. With more installations and tests already underway, Norsepower sees greater potential yet to be realised in the digital dimension. Initial test results suggest even higher savings could be achieved with further optimisation — especially for vessels with larger or more complex rotor sail setups.
Pöntynen concluded: “This development strengthens Norsepower’s leadership position not just in wind propulsion hardware, but also in the digital dimension that is now essential for compliance, efficiency, and transparency. With this step, we reaffirm our claim: we didn’t just open the market — we’re defining its future.”
Image: AI-powered Norsepower Sentient Control (source: Norsepower)
