Aero-Marine Systems is building the software-defined future of GBA maritime transit. By integrating aerospace-grade flight control algorithms with Pearl River Delta carbon-composite supply chains, the EF-150 architecture completely decouples the hull from hydrodynamic drag—slashing energy requirements by 80% and making high-speed electric commuter routes commercially viable.
Jumping directly from a 3-meter drone to a 28-meter 150-pax ferry is un-fundable by early-stage VCs. The BAYWING-D2 is our commercial bridge. It is a 15m, 25-passenger vessel designed explicitly to validate the technology in human-rated intra-city Hong Kong transit, secure marine certifications, and generate our first recurring revenue. This intermediate step allows VCs to fund the "gap" securely using government 1:1 matching schemes.
While the D1 serves to sell our IP and data to marine OEMs, the D2 enters the intra-city transit market. It will decarbonize Hong Kong's internal ferry network (Discovery Bay, Lamma Island, Mui Wo) providing VIP transit and fast commuting before the EF-150 dominates the inter-city GBA routes (Macau, Shenzhen).
The D2 bridges the "Valley of Death." This staged capital architecture minimizes founder and early angel dilution by leveraging non-dilutive statutory capital across both prototyping and pilot phases. Pitching VCs to fund a HK$ 10M Seed/Pre-A round directly triggers the government's ITF Enterprise Support Scheme (ESS) 1:1 matching grant, immediately doubling the capital to HK$ 20M to fully fund the D2 construction, testing, and launch.
High-speed hydrofoiling is fundamentally an aerospace control problem. Because dynamic instability scales inversely with physical size, a sub-scale 3.56-meter vessel experiences higher natural oscillation frequencies than the full commercial crafts. Stabilizing the D1 in real-world harbor sea-states completely de-risks the flight control stack.
Dual deterministic microcontrollers running real-time RTOS. Ingests dual IMUs, high-speed ultrasonic ride-height sensors, and a forward-scanning micro-LiDAR for wave feedforward compensation.
Scaled strictly according to Froude number criteria (Fn = 1.17). Operating at 13.4 knots simulates the wave-making, cavitation boundaries, and flap dynamics of the full-scale vessel at 38 knots.
Tested directly offshore at Hong Kong Science Park (Pak Shek Kok waterfront / Tolo Harbour). Swappable 48V LFP batteries eliminate shore charging needs during R&D, slashing sea-trial costs.
Legacy fast ferries rely on multi-megawatt diesel gas turbines pushing heavy displacement hulls. High marine fuel costs and escalating engine overhaul expenses compress operating margins. Our Fly-by-Wire control system enables a thermodynamic shift.
Fully submerged T-foils lift the hull completely above the waves at 18+ knots, decoupling the vessel from hydrodynamic displacement drag.
Triple-redundant Fly-by-Wire software reads IMUs and LiDAR, adjusting submerged flaps 100x/sec to neutralize Victoria Harbour wake pitch and roll.
Dockside battery storage buffers the 3.5 MW Megawatt Charging System (MCS), enabling rapid turnarounds without crashing the local municipal grid.
Direct electric pod drives yield ~$4.90 USD/NM energy costs, compared to ~$22.50 USD/NM for legacy marine gas oil turbines.
Simulate the financial viability of replacing legacy diesel vessels with the EF-150 platform. Data is calibrated for HKMD COLREGs speed restrictions (12-knot displacement mode within Victoria Harbour limits before foiling in open waters).
Structural and operational parameters proposed for the entire BAYWING architecture roadmap, from the D1 demonstrator to the full EF-150 commercial flagship.
| Engineering Parameter | D1 (1:8 Demonstrator) | D2 (Commercial Pilot) | EF-150 (Commercial) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length Overall (LOA) | 3.56 m (11.7 ft) | 15.0 m (49.2 ft) | 28.50 m (93.5 ft) |
| Foil Span (Beam) | 1.22 m | 4.50 m | 9.80 m |
| All-Up Displacement Mass | ~109 kg | ~12,000 kg | ~56,000 kg |
| Cruise Take-off Speed | 13.4 Knots | 32.0 Knots | 38.0 Knots |
| Installed Powertrain | 2x 1.0 kW Pods | 2x 150 kW Pods | 2x 650 kW Pods |
| Battery Mass Budget | 1.0 kWh 48V LFP | 400 kWh 800V LFP | 1.2 MWh 800V LFP |
| Primary Development Phase | Phase 1 (HKSTP Incubation) | Phase 2 (Commercial Pilot) | Phase 3 (Full Commercial Scale) |
Aero-Marine Systems utilizes a highly leveraged grant stack to execute the BAYWING-D1 hardware demonstrator. Because the HKSTP Incu-Tech and ITF Research Talent Hub operate on a reimbursement basis, we are securing an initial "Float Capital" bridge facility. This bridges cash flow, covers the PAG 10% co-pay, and secures specific Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) aerospace components while ensuring zero interruption to the R&D timeline while awaiting government disbursements.
The D2 VC Pitch (ITF ESS 1:1 Matching): To transition from the D1 drone to the commercial D2 passenger pilot, we are pitching VCs to fund a HK$ 10M Seed/Pre-A round. This staged capital architecture minimizes founder and early angel dilution. The private capital directly triggers the government's ITF Enterprise Support Scheme (ESS) 1:1 matching grant, immediately doubling the capital to HK$ 20M to fully fund the D2 construction and launch.
| Budget Category | AI-Driven Strategy & Allocation Details | Allocation (HKD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Founder Living Allowance | Sustains lead founder during core R&D (HKSTP flexible operational subsidy) | $720,000 |
| 2. Core Staff (1 Engineer) | 1x Mechatronics Lead. GNC logic heavily augmented by AI code-gen (RTH Subsidized) | $1,450,000 |
| 3. COTS Hardware & Sensors | Jetson Orin Nano, SBG INS, Ouster LiDAR, Torqeedo pods (HKSTP Prototyping) | $800,000 |
| 4. Hull Mfg & Tooling | AI-optimized CAD driving CNC foam milling & carbon infusion (Smart Mobility Fund) | $500,000 |
| 5. Testing & Water Permits | Tolo Harbour site allowances, telemetry gear, chase boats (HKSTP Operations) | $42,000 |
| 6. Intellectual Property | PCT Filing & GBA Regional Patent Prosecution (PAG 90% Subsidized) | $278,000 |
| 7. Contingency & Logistics | Buffer for supply chain shipping, uncrewed vessel insurance, and import duties | $200,000 |
Injecting HK$ 1M in private float capital immediately unlocks HK$ 2.99M in non-dilutive government subsidies (Incu-Tech, RTH salaries, PAG). The VC 1:1 ESS match for D2 secures $20M for $10M.
Validating physical stability on a 3.56m sub-scale demonstrator before hitting the 15m D2 drastically reduces software/hydrodynamics risk before taking on passengers.
Cutting drag by 80% reduces energy OPEX by 78% vs legacy diesel. For high-frequency GBA routes, this gives fleet operators a rapid payback period on the EV platform premium.
Running a hardware-software team with only two engineers augmented by AI cuts costs but creates extreme dependency. Mitigation: Strict modular documentation and standard COTS hardware limits proprietary lock-in.
Securing 3.5 MW grid capacity and pier modifications often involves extended regulatory lead times. Mitigation: The 4.0 MWh BESS buffer strategy completely bypasses high-voltage municipal grid upgrades.
Building full-scale 56-tonne vessels requires massive capital. Mitigation: We are not a shipyard. We are a software & flight-control OEM licensing the EF-150 IP package to existing PRD shipyards.