Orb: The Future of Autonomous Electric Hydrofoil Taxis ???

Urban waterways like rivers and canals have transformed from simple corridors for tourism and trade into vital urban assets. However, while they’re used by busy cargo ships or limited ferry services, they largely remain untapped, rarely accessible to the millions living along their banks.

A new concept in autonomous urban vessel design suggests that these waterways—from the Thames in London to New York’s East River and Amsterdam’s canals—could be reintegrated into urban life and transportation. In the future, they could provide a sustainable and efficient way for city residents to connect and navigate, making waterways an essential part of daily urban living.

Orb (short for Omni Robotic Boat) is a fully autonomous, electric hydrofoil vessel designed to carry six passengers in a sleek, capsule-like pod. Engineered for densely populated cities, Orb gracefully glides across the water, leveraging hydrofoil technology to skim above the waves, deftly maneuvering around traditional, bulkier vessels. Resembling an on-water version of “ride-hailing,” Orb brings urban waterways to life, offering accessible, convenient travel without the need for large, land-based infrastructure for ferries or larger passenger boats.

Orb’s vision is to create a waterborne transportation network, weaving through canals and rivers to offer tailored rideshare services—port-to-port, shore-to-shore—enabling seamless flow through cities. Designed with major metropolises like London, Miami, New York, Sydney, Hong Kong, and Venice in mind, this innovative hydrofoil sets a new standard for water transit, merging advanced technology with luxury comfort. The hydrofoil design minimizes wave impact, ensuring maximum energy efficiency and a smoother ride for passengers.

London-based strategy and design firm Seymourpowell, known for its award-winning work across sectors—from train interiors to deodorant canisters—conceived the Orb concept. Neil Baron, Seymourpowell’s Associate Director of Product Innovation and the chief designer behind Orb, explains, “The concept was inspired by a deep understanding of London’s worsening traffic congestion and the vast, untapped potential of the Thames. We envisioned Orb as a means to make rivers once again the lifeblood of urban life—transforming every water journey into an exploration of freedom, convenience, and beauty.”

Baron remarked, “The waterways here aren’t truly accessible for everyone. While there are plenty of boats passing by, you’re usually waiting an hour between vessels, and you can’t board or disembark at will. If you’re heading to the financial district, that’s fine; but if you want to go anywhere else, it’s not exactly practical. Surely, there’s room for something more flexible, agile, accessible, and—above all—enjoyable.”

Drawing on 40 years of expertise in designing for rail and airline interiors, Seymourpowell’s designers have merged the latest concepts in passenger comfort with cutting-edge autonomous technology to create the compact and powerful electric hydrofoil capsule, “Orb.” Orb envisions a near future where convenient water taxis navigate urban waterways as a new daily mode of transport.

The system includes a modular dock that can be easily installed along waterfronts and connected like building blocks to form an extensive water transit network. Built-in charging infrastructure powers the boats’ batteries, while solar panels on board extend range for longer journeys. Baron envisions, “An autonomous urban vessel system could be ideal for short trips, like crossing a city river, or even longer journeys—from downtown Chicago to distant lakefront beach houses on Lake Michigan.”

The Seymourpowell system can function as a small fleet or an extensive network, offering flexible travel options. Passengers won’t need to rely on fixed bus or subway routes; instead, they can hop aboard an Orb, choose from a series of stops, and glide smoothly through the water.

Waterways in cities around the world could once again become active, convenient parts of urban transit networks and scenic routes for leisure travel. Baron explained that the design of Orb was inspired by Thomas Heatherwick’s London bus, prioritizing views so passengers can fully enjoy the cityscape around them.

ORB remains a concept for an autonomous electric hydrofoil designed for rideshare services, leading us to reevaluate the waterways in our cities. Once witnesses to history, these waterways have been forgotten for various reasons. However, through innovative design and technological empowerment, they are now revitalized, becoming pioneers in the transformation of urban transportation. By combining new design approaches with cutting-edge technology, this concept can revive a mode of travel that dates back to the establishment of cities.

Baron concluded, “By better utilizing underutilized waterways, we can radically change urban transportation amidst growing population densities—providing faster, cleaner, and more enjoyable travel experiences through more responsible operator models, paving the way for a more sustainable future.”

In this wave of innovation in water transportation, Orb is not alone. Callboats has launched the solar-powered autonomous electric water taxi, Cat 10, in Helsinki, and Verne Mobility from Poland is following suit with its AI-driven water taxi and ferry concepts. Together, they are painting a new picture for waterborne travel, allowing urban waterways to flourish with unprecedented charm and vitality.