We've done autonomous cars, how about autonomous ships?

Link to short article

I think this is more achievable than cars, honestly. Harsher travel conditions in many cases, but much more wide open space to operate. Easier to assume remote piloted control or drop a pilot on board when coming into the harbor. I think a lot of the operation of the big ships is essentially auto-piloted now when off shore, right?

I know we've got some commercial sailors on here - thoughts?

I think you covered it already when you say that they are already on auto mode when off-shore. Getting rid of the maintenance staff will be a challenge.

That said, it would be interesting to see a ship design that eliminated the need for any human accommodation.

Robuts took ar jobs!

Two words. Exxon Valdez.

1988RedT2 wrote: Robuts took aRRRRR jobs!

It's all fun and games until some teenage hacker finds his way into the software, then it's going to be all like...

stroker wrote: Two words. Exxon Valdez.

Drunk computers aren't really a problem. Not all boats are oil tankers.

I prefer to be fully in control of my own e36 m3s.

In reply to Robbie: I like the cut of your manually operated jib.

as a sailor who harbors thoughts of a circumnavigation, the idea of a fully autonomous ship scares the E36 M3 out of me. It's hard enough to get the attention of those behemoths as it is, I could not imagine having to worry about getting run down by a computer

mad_machine wrote: as a sailor who harbors thoughts of a circumnavigation, the idea of a fully autonomous ship scares the E36 M3 out of me. It's hard enough to get the attention of those behemoths as it is, I could not imagine having to worry about getting run down by a computer

You are looking at this all wrong. When the computer runs you down, it won't care one bit as long as it didn't impact its schedule.

Robbie wrote: I prefer to be fully in control of my own e36 m3s.

I don't think robots are going to take that particular job quite yet...

I'd go be a high tech pirate.

Hijack a ship by taking control of it with it's short range communication protocol reserved for docking. Then reroute to a holding port.

Maintenance would be an issue though.