Mayflower AI sea drone
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Copyrighted_and_Published_by_A_S_Burbank%2C_The_Mayflower_at_Sea_%28NBY_21340%29.jpg/220px-Copyrighted_and_Published_by_A_S_Burbank%2C_The_Mayflower_at_Sea_%28NBY_21340%29.jpg)
Mayflower AI sea drone , or Mayflower Autonomous Ship, or Mayflower 400 is an autonomous research vessel planned to cross the Atlantic without human crew or assistance in 2021.[1] It is named after the Mayflower sailing ship, that carried English and Dutch Pilgrims onboard from England to New England between September and November 1620. Taking the same route, it was originally intended to set sail in September 2020 in time for the 400th anniversary.[2][3]
A three-week voyage is planned; the Mayflower 400 will sail from Plymouth UK , navigate through the Isles of Scilly and over the site of the sunken Titanic to land in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The Mayflower Autonomous Ship has a highly trained “captain” and a “navigator” knowledgeable in the rules of avoiding collisions at sea. Both functions are controlled by artificial intelligence (AI). [4]
The 15-meter long aluminium trimaran is solar-powered and is capable of speeds of up to 10 knots (20km/h). It has a back up diesel generator. The ship cost $1.3 million to build and is owned by the not for profit marine research organization ProMare in partnership with computer-tech company IBM. [5][6]
The ship will sample the water for pollutants and study marine life during its voyage. It will also trial its computer systems.
References[]
- ^ Divis, Dee Ann. "Mayflower AI sea drone readies maiden transatlantic voyage". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
- ^ Denise Chow (19 October 2020). "Robotic 'Mayflower' to cross the Atlantic on 400th anniversary of Pilgrims' journey". NBC News. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ Rachel Jewett (28 May 2021). "Iridium and Thales Chosen to Connect the Mayflower Autonomous Ship". Satellite Today. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "Robotic ship sets off to retrace the Mayflower's journey". The Independent. 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
- ^ "New Robot 'Mayflower' Ship Begins Voyage Recreating Original Route | Voice of America - English". www.voanews.com. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
- ^ "AI-driven robot Mayflower begins Atlantic voyage". BBC News. 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
External links[]
- Autonomous ships
- Research vessels
- Artificial intelligence applications