Pushing the limits of speed with ultra-precise INS data

We first collaborated with Marc and his team in 2017, during the mountain bike world speed record with rider Eric Barone. Our sensors played an important role in that achievement, providing precise data under extreme conditions. When Marc’s team began developing their new record-breaking craft on water, they reached out to us again to support this next challenge.

In 2020, Marc launched a new challenge — the Zephir Project, aimed at breaking the world speed record on water with a sail. Once again, he chose to rely on our Ellipse inertial sensor to capture precise motion data throughout the record attempts. This time, the project partnered with legendary windsurfer Antoine Albeau. He went on to set a new world speed record on a windsurf in December 2024 at Lüderitz, Namibia.

Assessing the Challenge

The project required accurate and stable motion data in an environment where conditions are constantly changing — exposure to saltwater, strong sunlight, high vibration, and limited installation space. The goal was to achieve real-time motion monitoring and performance optimization of the Zephir speed craft and its rider during both training sessions and record attempts.

To achieve this, the requirements were:

• High-precision 3D orientation and motion data
• Reliable output under harsh, dynamic conditions
• Compact design suitable for integration in a small craft

Integrating the Ellipse sensor for high-precision motion tracking

We provided Ellipse-D INS. It’s a compact and robust sensor with dual GNSS antenna capable of delivering consistent high-frequency data. Integrated into Zephir’s custom onboard measurement system, Ellipse-D works alongside other sensors such as a wind meter, pressure gauges, and a smartphone app.

This setup helps the team to analyze movements in detail and optimize performance. They gain a better understanding of the interaction between the rider and the craft.

“Ellipse provides crucial data consistency at high frequency, allowing us to analyze and optimize performance through AI algorithms. It has become a key tool in understanding our complex human–material system,” explains Marc Amerigo, Zephir Project Leader.

Collaboration and Support

Our collaboration with Zephir has always been smooth and constructive. We worked closely with their engineers to define the most suitable configuration for their setup and adapted it as project needs evolved.

During integration, our support team provided technical guidance and assistance to ensure everything ran as expected.

“The team was proactive, supportive, and highly professional, helping us throughout the project,” says Marc.

Results

Ellipse-D delivered reliable and accurate motion data even under demanding conditions. Combined with Qinertia, our post-processing software, it helped the team reconstruct precise trajectories and analyze every performance parameter.

Key Benefits:

• Stable data under high dynamic motion
• Compact and easy integration
• Reliable performance in extreme environments

Moving Forward

The Zephir Project is now advancing toward new challenges, focusing on aerodynamic improvements, AI-assisted data analysis, and future record campaigns with an even more efficient and sustainable design.

“When you chase world records, precision becomes everything. Ellipse gives us the accuracy and confidence to control the uncontrollable, and to turn extreme conditions into extraordinary performance“, says Marc Amerigo, Zephir Project Leader.

We at SBG Systems are proud to have supported the Zephir Project in their pursuit of performance and innovation, and we wish the entire Zephir team the very best for all their future endeavors.