How self-driving boats could be on the water

Despite numerous road trials and advancements in technology, we are still waiting for self-driving cars.

In 2016, Lyft predicted that most rides would be self-driving by 2021, while General Motors said it would be mass producing fully autonomous vehicles even earlier. However, creating a car that can handle every possibility that can arise on any road is proving harder than anticipated.

On the water, the situation is a little different: with fewer vehicles in canals, rivers, and open water than on roads, and without the problem of wayward pedestrians, autonomous boats have fewer obstacles to contend with. boats often follow set routes, for example shipping routes and ferry crossings, so navigation is easier than with an autonomous car.

The fleet of self-driving boats is already on the waterways, he said. The boats are equipped with advanced AI and sensor systems to navigate, avoid obstacles, and adjust to changing conditions in real-time.

Whether cargo transportation, search and rescue, or passenger ferries, they can be programmed to carry out intricate tasks, such as watching water quality, collecting oceanographic data, or assisting in offshore construction projects.

The Netherlands has trialled electric and fully self-driving Roboats for transportation and waste collection in the canals. The self-driving boats developed by MIT and funded by the city of Amsterdam can also be combined to create floating infrastructure like docks and bridges. The company behind them now wants to create a self-driving ferry that will operate during the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.

Dubai has trials of the autonomous Abra ferry a wooden vessel that can carry eight passengers in Norway, and the Yara Birkeland, a fully electric autonomous cargo ship, is described by its creators, chemical company Yara International, as the world's first fully electric autonomous cargo ship and is intended to promote more environmentally friendly freight movement.

By reducing human error, autonomous boats promise to enhance safety and minimize accidents, while optimizing fuel consumption and reducing carbon emissions.

How long before we can autonomous vehicles be created on land?