INNOC's robotic sailing boat researches whales in the Pacific Ocean
The Austrian team of scientists with the world's leading robotic sailing boat "ASV Roboat" has proven itself in numerous competitions. Most recently, the team defended their title at the World Robotic Sailing Championship which took place in Portugal. Efforts are being made to utilise the ingenious sailing boat technology for concrete research purposes. Preparations are currently underway for a project to research the whale population in the Pacific Ocean.
Robotic sailing boats execute the complex sailing processes completely autonomously and without human interaction. Starting with the calculation of the optimal route based on weather data, to the autonomous execution of manoeuvres like tack and jibe, robotic boats are able to reach any desired destination by analysing sensor data through artificial intelligence.
This technology, developed by a team of scientists at the Austrian Society of Innovative Computer Science (InnoC) including Roland Stelzer and Karim Jafarmadar, is slated to be applied within the framework of international research projects. In cooperation with the Oregon State University (USA) marine biology department the project to research whales in the Pacific Ocean is currently work in progress. Compared to previous methods of research the Roboat technology proves beneficial in this area. An autonomic sailing boat makes cost-effective surveying of large areas for long periods of time possible. Due to its high capacity, ingenious energy self-sufficiency and comparatively high speed, an autonomic sailing boat is superior to other methods of research. This research project is being conducted within the next two to three years and will conclude with a research mission near Hawaii.
The Austrian team of scientists would like to see this technology gain ground in other areas of application as well. From robotic sailing boats to CO2-neutral transportation of goods, to increased safety on sailing boats, as far as surveillance of remote or dangerous regions, the scientists visualise many new areas of application for the Roboat technology.
As well as actively working on research projects, the Roboat team is currently preparing for the upcoming World Robotic Sailing Championship, which will take place from June 7 - 10, 2010, in Kingston, Canada. The technology has to be perfect, after all - the scientists are preparing to defend last year's World Championship title.
