Your gadgets may soon arrive from distant manufacturers on cargo ships, where there is no captain or crew.
Autonomous boats can provide assistance on the water
A self-piloted ship designed to recreate the Mayflower’s journey across the Atlantic Ocean 400 years ago has crossed the ocean, part of a growing number of boats using artificial intelligence (AI) to guide themselves in a trend that could make maritime shipping and shipping greener and more efficient.
“From a sustainability perspective, an unmanned vessel allows for slower, more fuel-efficient routes,” Marc Taylor, a logistics specialist at TheoremOne, an innovation and engineering company, told Lifewire in an email interview. “The AI technology on board can analyze real-time sea conditions so the engine can operate in the most efficient way.”
After a 40-day voyage spanning 3,500 miles at sea, the Mayflower Autonomous Ship arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, North America on June 5. The ship carries six AI-powered cameras and more than 30 sensors, helping the AI captain interpret and analyze conditions at sea.
