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Project GreenJet is the Next Step Towards Fully Automated Sailing Yachts
Posted by Adrian Covert at 10:06 AM on June 12, 2008
Gizmag has an epic feature about the evolution of sailing that's focused around Project GreenJet — a huge, 57 metre sailing yacht that can be controlled by one man and a touchscreen. The designer Erik Sifrer, based the design for the 57 meter Project GreenJet around his earlier SY120 Yacht that functions in a similar manner. Only this time, it bigger, faster, and more advanced.
What's cool is a boat like this would eliminate the need for the dozens of athletically-inclined sailors normally required. Instead, one (or a few) just needs to monitor weather systems and adjust accordingly via the touchscreen. The 2 sails can be raised to their 55m height in 30-40 seconds, and can also rotate 160 degrees.
Other ships, such as the Maltese Falcon, might be bigger and already do partially automated sailing to an extent, but Project GreenJet is trying to push the boundaries of automation. While still a concept, Sifrer says its a matter of time and money to get this made. Basic production calculations have already been made, and Sifrer just needs backing for this project, which will cost US$70 million and take 3-6 years to build. In theory.
My feeling is that you still need the human to make the calls. Sailing is extremely complicated and it's very difficult to read into waves, wind and current simultaneously and autonomously. It just hasn't been done yet over any great distances or challenging conditions and 3 to 6 years is far enough away that we might as well say 60 years. But who knows?
[Gizmag]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
techwhiz140
Posted 11:05 AM 12/6/08
@bms:Like it was ever fun to begin with?
techwhiz140
bms
Posted 11:02 AM 12/6/08
Well that takes all the fun out sailing.
bms
Rick36
Posted 10:45 AM 12/6/08
Probably Tom Perkins wants one.
He was on 60 Minutes with Leslie Stahl last week. He said the Maltese Falcon was for sail (get it "sale"? I made a funny!)
I don't see how they can build it for $70 million. The Maltese Falcon was rumored to cost over $100 million.
Rick36
gadgetplay
Posted 10:44 AM 12/6/08
I don't think it's the decision making that's automated, it's the execution of the captain's orders.
gadgetplay
Leonard Nimrod
Posted 10:43 AM 12/6/08
UAE funding all the way.
Leonard Nimrod
BigDogues
Posted 10:28 AM 12/6/08
But watch where the money will come from for this "green" yacht project. My bet is on Abu Dhabi.
BigDogues
BigDogues
Posted 10:23 AM 12/6/08
They have been dabbling with this type of tech for cargo ships for years. Now with fuel prices through the roof watch how much faster these sails come to fruition. The shipping industry would do well to finance this guy 100%.
BigDogues
HeyBeav
Posted 10:20 AM 12/6/08
Kudos to you Adrian for recognizing that the allure of sailing involves a degree of human interpolation _I've felt this wind shift before, I know these following seas etc.
I've sailed and delivered boats with very sophisticated systems for the past fifteen years and there are times where even though the electronics make your job easier you have to go with your gut and make some tough choices.
HeyBeav
impendingdoom
Posted 10:12 AM 12/6/08
If those sails were also solar panels I'd pay for the prototype right now.
impendingdoom
Silverback
Posted 11:42 AM 12/6/08
now even the wimpy motor boat owners can pilot a sailing rig!!
Silverback
altus
Posted 2:05 PM 12/6/08
Sailing is great fun.... Just the wind, water and waves and you get to go around the world....
altus
Dapole
Posted 5:56 PM 12/6/08
can it do the kessel run it 12 parsecs? because that would just be impressive
Dapole
bms
Posted 7:04 PM 12/6/08
@techwhiz140: It is if you don't own the boat and get to race on one.
bms
Curves
Posted 8:27 PM 12/6/08
I thought some of the allure of sailing was the man against nature challenge. This sort of takes the human interaction out of it. With no humans on board, what would you do for rail meat (ballast)?
Curves
ANoel
Posted 1:38 AM 13/6/08
Tea Leafs!* (two wrongs don't make a right)
[www.kellogg.northwestern.edu]
*[gizmodo.com]
ANoel
banmojo
Posted 1:31 AM 13/6/08
@Curves: did you SEE that jacuzzi in midship? methinks the allure of sailing THIS boat would be having naked bunny sex all over the boat without worrying about running into a shoal or something (as opposed to dressed non-bunny sex which just isn't as much fun)
banmojo
Curves
Posted 2:14 AM 13/6/08
@banmojo: How you do naked bunny sex without automating the fun out of your boat: Drop Anchor.
Curves
ANoel
Posted 2:31 AM 13/6/08
@Curves:
"Drop Anchor."
... in any Port 'O Call?
ANoel
HawkSkater0
Posted 1:44 PM 12/6/08
i will just borrow the boat without asking, thats where the money will come from....
HawkSkater0
Drydoctor
Posted 10:46 PM 12/6/08
Sailing is fun,and challenging, my 35 year old landsailer will top 70mph, and iceboats are even faster
Drydoctor
steiny
Posted 6:06 PM 12/6/08
@Dapole:
Don't be stupid, there's no warp drive on this thing...yet!
steiny
circusboy
Posted 10:51 AM 12/6/08
why on earth would you want to eliminate the need for "the need for the dozens of athletically-inclined sailors" ???
that's the fun part of sailing. (well, one of them...)
circusboy