Unmanned Sailboat Pacific Sailing
- Thread starter Rick D
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Not to any vessel of substantial mass it isn't.
Yes, interesting, but what is the purpose? I see no gain since most ships/boats use autopilot of some type. And, what if the host system crashes? Now we have a piece of sea junk. Just like if a satellite loses control it becomes a piece of space junk.
Maybe I can see a military application if the vessel is small and as you say, stealth.
Also, Robert Redford can make a follow on movie about his sailboat hitting a sailing drone and sinking both. :naughty::dance:
I'm intrigued by the idea that the "sail" is self tending. This looks more or less like AC boats, could this in fact be the future of efficient sailing?..
It may be the future for those with surplus cash who want to become "instant sailors".
It seems someone is playing with a toy under the guise of research. I don't see any technological break through. We have garbage drifting from Japan to the US as a result of the tsunami; are we trying to send some the other way?
Did you read their web page. My first question was why and I think they answered that. The doesn't tell us if there is a plan to retrieve it in the event of a failure. Bottom line: It's cheaper than sending a ship to tend buoys or take measurements of water content or weather related measurements.
It may not be a hazard for ships, but Id not want to hit it in my small boat on some night crossing. It's 19 feet ling with a 6 foot draft.
It may not be a hazard for ships, but Id not want to hit it in my small boat on some night crossing. It's 19 feet ling with a 6 foot draft.
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