New Robot ‘Mayflower' Ship Begins Voyage Recreating Original Route
Voice of America
A fully autonomous ship named for the Mayflower, the ship that sailed to what is now the eastern U.S. state of Massachusetts, left Plymouth Harbor in southwestern Britain Tuesday to retrace the original’s 5,000-kilometer voyage.
If successful, the 15-meter Mayflower 400 would be the largest autonomous vessel to cross the Atlantic. The $1.3 million ship was built by a nonprofit marine research organization named ProMare in partnership with the computer-tech giant IBM. It is powered by a combination of wind and solar energy, with a back-up diesel generator. ProMare co-founder and project director Brett Phaneuf said the ship is designed to test a variety of different technologies, as well as research the ocean. Computing and artificial intelligence systems supplied by IBM — and more commonly used by financial services firms — help it make decisions at sea without human help. A range of equipment including cameras and radar allow the craft to sense the world around it and detect hazards. The vessel is also loaded with instruments to measure ocean health, including a "tongue" to taste seawater chemicals, and an acoustic payload to listen for whales and dolphins.A scenic view from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, May 10, 2024. A view of roses in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, May 10, 2024. The White House Kitchen Garden in Washington, May 10, 2024. The Jacqueline Kennedy Garden at the White House in Washington, May 10, 2024.
FILE - A movie-prop helicopter parked on a bridge causes traffic to slow on the Hollywood Freeway below, in Los Angeles, Dec. 12, 2018. California could soon deploy generative artificial intelligence tools to help reduce traffic jams. FILE - California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks in Larkspur, Calif., April 16, 2024. California could soon deploy AI tools to help solve problems, under agreements announced May 9, 2024, as part of Newsom's efforts to harness technologies for public services.