Interesting to see you have such a strongly negative bias against a technology intended to benefit humanity by increasing our knowledge and understanding of our
environment and the planet we live on.
Perhaps since you eschew the
work of "scientists" you live in a
cabin in the woods without electricity? Oh wait, you're clacking away on a computer keyboard.
Despite your presumption to the contrary, I didn't see mention in the article about how Saildrone had specifically given "No consideration of ColRegs. No adherence to safe international
navigation laws."
Do you really think people like Eric Schmidt or the other VCs who have dumped $16.5 into this Saildrone
project are a bunch of idiots? How about DARPA, who are well on their way to completing sea trials of the ACTUV?
Per a March 2015 article posted at navaldrones.com -
"To help augment ACTUV’s capability for sensing and classifying other vessels, and to reduce reliance on
radar as ACTUV’s primary
sensor, DARPA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) about currently available technologies that could help ACTUV and future unmanned surface vessels perceive and classify nearby ships and other objects. DARPA is specifically interested in
sensor systems and image-processing
hardware and
software that use passive (electro-optical/infrared, or EO/IR) or non-radar active (e.g., light detection and ranging, or LIDAR) approaches. The goal is to develop reliable, robust onboard systems that could detect and track nearby surface vessels and potential navigation hazards, classify those objects’ characteristics and provide input to ACTUV’s autonomy
software to facilitate correct COLREGs behaviors."
Have the builders of the Saildrone really and truly given "No consideration of ColRegs"? I see a sailboat that is painted bright orange with navigation lights. Does it have
AIS? A webcam to keep a proper lookout? Nothing in the article you link to says it doesn't.
PS What the heck is "off shoring"?