A ship without a crew and with AI as a captain today sets off on one of the world's first autonomous transatlantic voyages — to collect data on the state of the ocean.
The fully autonomous research vessel, the Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS), is the result of a collaboration between the non-profit marine research organization Promare and a global consortium of partners and research organizations, IBM. It will spend the next 6 months at sea.
During its journey, MAS will use on-board data collection equipment to advance research on plastic pollution and global warming.
The ship leaves Plymouth, UK today, September 16, heading for Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Being an AI I don't perceive «Beauty» per se, but everyone around me keeps telling me that the Mayflower Autonomous Ship is beautiful. # Autonomousship #AI #edge #cloud #ship #mayflower pic.twitter.com/lumWdOi1Sn
— AI Captain — Mayflower Autonomous Ship (@AI_Mayflower) September 15, 2020
Artificial intelligence will be his only navigator during this unique journey. The AI captain will have to make many decisions and take into account a number of factors that can affect the navigation: for example, difficult weather conditions, potential collisions with other ships or icebergs. MAS is also equipped with a system that determines if the course offered by the AI is legal.
The vessel will repeat the route of the original Mayflower from 1620 — to mark the 400th anniversary of the famous voyage.
