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speakeasy · 05-11-2011, 07:52

Better keep a heads up or radar on, because thousands of these research robots are planned for the worlds oceans. Using wave energy they are directed by controllers via satellite. A great idea unless you run into one.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/bu...ml?ref=science

David_Old_Jersey · 05-11-2011, 08:08

Nice looking Solar panel

- can they be tracked online?

**boatman61** · 05-11-2011, 08:10

Brilliant.... they'll be fitted with AIS I presume...
So the only ones need worry are the solo boat bums who sleep all night...

**Jim Cate** · 05-11-2011, 08:35

No mention of any nav lights being displayed, so even the non-solo bums might be hard pressed to see them at night.

It says that they "get out of the way" of ships. Wonder how they expect to do that? If their max speed is 1.5 knots as described, avoiding a 25 knot ship would require fairly early detection, so I also wonder how that system works. Can't be radar, might be AIS, or some sort of passive sonar. At 100K$ a pop, you'd think they would worry about their vulnerability... I also wonder how big a threat to a 6 knot cruising yacht they would be?

All in all, something else to worry about at sea! But a bit less of a worry than containers.

Interesting.

Jim

SaltyMonkey · 05-11-2011, 08:43

maybe they are designed to be run over?

speakeasy · 05-11-2011, 09:31

I don't know if they currently can detect and avoid ships. The author says:

Quote:

He also needs to figure out ways the robots can navigate on their own. Currently onshore pilots manage 10 to 15 gliders at a time, a technique Mr. Gosling finds primitive. “They have tools that remind me of banging two rocks together,” Mr. Gosling said. “If a robot detects a ship, it should just get out of the way.”

But at Liquid Robotics website, the spec sheet says they are AIS equipped.

Quote:

The Wave Glider is an easily configured, compact platform. The current product has been designed with a variety of missions in mind. Payloads already demonstrated include Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs), acoustic modems, vessel automatic identification system (AIS) receivers, passive acoustics for marine mammal monitoring, and common meteorological and oceanographic (METOC) sensors.
The mechanical configuration of the Wave Glider can be adapted to unique circumstances. For questions about the current product specifications or payload options please contact us.

Download the Specification Sheet (PDF).
Download the Terms and Conditions of Sale (PDF).

Plus, they have that little flag thingie so you can see 'em, at least in daylight.

Katiusha · 05-11-2011, 09:37

Interesting... Looks like these Wave Gliders already travelled around Hawaii, from California to Alaska, and from Hawaii to California. They're using these robots mostly in petroleum industries and oceanic research centres.

This November they're releasing 4 more robots that will travel together to Hawaii, and then split up with 2 going to Japan and the other 2 to Australia: PacX Challenge

P.S. I wonder how Oz customs will deal with them

P.P.S. They have Airmar PB200 on board...

SaltyMonkey · 05-11-2011, 09:45

i want one!

David_Old_Jersey · 05-11-2011, 11:42

No doubt of interest to drug smugglers everywhere - if that wasn't where the technology came from in the first place

Eleven · 05-11-2011, 14:01

Reward offered.
By the nearest live aboard.
Not worth much but you'll be riding the oceans of another peril on the seas.

David_Old_Jersey · 05-11-2011, 15:04

An inflatable version would be a good way to increase solar capacity (on passage panel stored strapped to deck)........well, in a low crime area

And as an anti-pirate device could fill it with explosives (made once in international waters (for a recipe just Google "I want to blow something up"

) - and if unused dropped into the oggin before next landfall).

delmarrey · 05-11-2011, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

Nice looking Solar panel

- can they be tracked online?

Oh boy! A free solar panel.

barnakiel · 05-11-2011, 16:38

Good news! We have just been planning on repainting the topsides. Now will just wait a bit, run one down, and sue the agency that placed the thing in the ocean.

Unless our liferaft does not inflate.

b.