Slef-driving boats: the future of navigation

[gamayun]

You knew this was coming, right? Seems to be fairly well advanced technology. But to say this is just an extra pair of eyes for the skipper is an attempt to keep people from freaking out over the truth. It brings to mind the sleeping Tesla driver and the cop that had to pull in front to get the car to slow down. Of course, if the car didn't have self-driving capability, someone would have likely died when the driver fell asleep at the wheel....

https://youtu.be/5mhWmyh1RBQ

(Argh, I can't spell. Can someone fix the header?)

[psk125]

Notice that they still head out with a bumper dragging over the side. Is that "just
in case...?"

[psk125]

On a more serious note, self-drive is not just for engined craft:

https://www.microtransat.org

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...-crossing.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolo...es-autonomous/

When they get bigger, it will get more interesting.

[Kenomac]

Awesome.

[IslandHopper]

And more..

https://youtu.be/vg0A9Ve7SxE

https://youtu.be/JW57ZMjL_fc

[ontherocks83]

Well that's cool. Now single handers won't have to defend themselves as much here. They'll have help from AI

[gamayun]

Originally Posted by ontherocks83

Well that's cool. Now single handers won't have to defend themselves as much here. They'll have help from AI

Exactly! With bionic eyes no less..

[jmschmidt]

Just like self-driving cars, self-driving boats will not happen in the near 20-30 year future because they will be uninsurable. When today's technology meets the rigorous testing to prove, not hope, it works safely the delay will have been years. In the meantime we are more likely to have developed the Star Ship Enterprise tele-transporter to take us on vacation before self-driving anything is in mass use. Oh, left-wing, politically-correct, man-made-global warming believing, governments may subsidize insurance and offer even more generous tax breaks for autonomous vehicles just to prove how much the world needs them but autonomous boats, ships and airplanes will prove to be a whole different matter when it comes to big law suits.

[jen1722terry]

Interesting.

Self docking would be nice. For us, at least, who have a few disabilities between us, docking is often the most stressful thing we do. AI would be nice hooked up to the controls.

But then again, part of the stress of docking is handling the lines shorthanded or solo. Not sure AI could help with that unless it was part of a very agile robot.

Cheers!

Jenn and Terry

[ArmyDaveNY]

The technology is quite impressive and getting better all the time. A major issue is that the laws and regulations will be years behind the technology.

[atoll]

does not engaging the auto pilot or wind vane steering already make most yachts self driving?

[Nikki S]

What if pirates try to board? Or What if someone collided with them or someone else in their vicinity needs assistance- will they be useless? Or will they still have crew as backup?

[gamayun]

Originally Posted by atoll

does not engaging the auto pilot or wind vane steering already make most yachts self driving?

True. It should be called autonomous driving but that implies a human is ultimately not at the controls, which is what the public and policy makers continue to freak out over...