Is AI a tool that can aide boaters?

[dlochner]

In case you missed it.

Boat Runs Down a Drone on Lake Erie. Is This Just the Beginning?

Recreational Craft Wrecks 'Uncrewed' Vessel Despite Collision-Avoidance System

loosecannon.substack.com

 

[Davidasailor26]

In case you missed it.

Boat Runs Down a Drone on Lake Erie. Is This Just the Beginning?

Recreational Craft Wrecks 'Uncrewed' Vessel Despite Collision-Avoidance System

loosecannon.substack.com

I’ve exceeded my quota of free Loose Cannon articles, but from the headline it sounds like the human was at fault, not the computer?

 

[dlochner]

I’ve exceeded my quota of free Loose Cannon articles, but from the headline it sounds like the human was at fault, not the computer?

Ok, Loose Cannon is only about $1 for good independent journalism about boating with an emphasis on recreational boating. Swanson has a long history of being in the marine journalism world. And he'll walk your dog if you get to Green Cove Springs, FL.

The drone is semi-autonomous operated by NOAA, it is one of many they deploy. It is fairly small and with a very low freeboard. A human is supposed to check on it every 20 minutes.

There are local media reports on WTOL, but I couldn't find them in a quick search.

 

[Davidasailor26]

I find technology objectionable when it transforms the user into a carnival rider.

Depends. Some people like going to the carnival. Some people like having the option to go there sometimes but also be more interactive at other times. Who am I to tell them they shouldn’t be able to, or that technology shouldn’t exist to let them?

 

[Davidasailor26]

I got the Substack app and got access to the article. Seeing the picture of the low freeboard is compelling. I’d be curious to know why the drone couldn’t avoid the collision. Was that a failure or was the sailboat just going too fast or in too unpredictable of a course to avoid?

The irony is that if both vessels were automated they probably would’ve seen each others’ AIS and avoided the collision.

As low as the freeboard is I don’t think it’d be any harder to see than a kayaker or small bass boat. And I wasn’t compelled by the 2 foot seas obscuring visibility. I think this is actually pretty analogous to the question of AI forum posts - the drone wasn’t any harder to deal with than a regular manned vessel, but maybe there will be more of them so you need to deal with it at a larger scale than traditional human-controlled obstacles.