Norwegian Unmanned Sailboat Crosses the Atlantic on Wind and PV Power

Norwegian unmanned sailboat "Sailbuoy" recently successfully crossed the Atlantic traveling 5,100 kilometers in 80 days on wind and PV power, marking a milestone for application of PV power and auto piloting technology in shipping and paving the way for utilization of unmanned ships in oceanic study.

Driven mainly by wind power, Sailbuoy relies on PV cells to power its electronic equipment. In participating the "Microtransat Challenge" event, the sailboat started the voyage from Newfoundland on the east coast of Canada on June 7, 2018, sailing 5,100 kilometers in 80 days at 1.4 kilometers/hour before arriving in Ireland on Aug. 27.

Many unmanned ships have attended the annual event since its inception in 2005, striving to meet the challenge of crossing the Atlantic and 20 of them sank in the voyage.

Unmanned shipping across the Atlantic is a daunting task, having to withstand strong wind and huge waves and avoid collision with ships and offshore drilling units, without any human assistance, unlike driverless cars in the current stage. To avoid shipwreck or capsizing, "Sailbuoy" is equipped with multiple sensors, scanning surroundings and transmitting the data to AI system to determine navigational direction.

Built by Norwegian firm Offshore Sensing AS, Sailbuoy is around two meters long, weighing 60 kilos, equipped with a 30 W solar panel and 400 Wh chargeable battery, capable carrying 15 kilos of weight per 60 cubic decimeters (dm³). It sails at 3.7 kilometers/hour at maximum, claiming to be able to withstand up to 30 meters/second of wind speed and big waves higher than eight meters. It relies on AI and GPS for positioning and determining navigational direction and is furnished with sensors for weather, wave, and echo, for use in oceanic study.

David Pennie, CEO of Offshore Sensing AS, noted that the sailboat will be used mainly for oceanic study now, via the application of its sensors, before testing its capability to withstand hurricane later on.

Similar to Offshore Sensing AS, Saidrone of the U.S. is also bent on development of self-sailing sailboats, with the aim of making it the first unmanned boat capable of making around-the-world travel. Also driven by wind power, Saildrone can send real-time data on oceanic front and fish ecology, among others, to the operator via satellite, which can change its navigational direction via remote control.

With the growing maturity of auto sailing and renewable energy technologies, scientists will be able to probe faraway or dangerous sea areas without physical presence.

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(First photo courtesy of Offshore Sensing AS, written by Daisy Chuang)