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To be honest I imagine that a robo-shipping vessel would be easier to create than robo-trucks. for several reasons: * The ships are larger and more expensive a
by philk 17y ago
To be honest I imagine that a robo-shipping vessel would be easier to create than robo-trucks. for several reasons:
* The ships are larger and more expensive and hence the add on expense is smaller, comparatively
* There's less traffic around and the traffic that is around is likely to have on board beacons, etc
* The ships already have more sophisticated instrumentation than trucks (radar, etc)
- cubix 17y agoAlso, I would imagine docking would be the hard part. You could have a local human crew take over that part, perhaps.
- nradov 17y agoThat's already done. Most large ports require a licensed local pilot to board each ship and guide it in and out.
- alex_stoddard 17y agoBut there are also vulnerable to piracy.
- philk 17y agoBig cargo ships are already vulnerable to piracy and the handful of crew on board does little more than give the pirates some hostages. If the ships were fully automated, and remote controlled, you could simply refuse to comply with the pirates and just keep sailing wherever you planned.
- gridspy 17y agoUnder the assumption that the pirates could not compromise the command and control system, or simply cut the rudder and steer the ship manually. But yes, it was these points that led me to suggest robot ships.
- noblethrasher 17y agoWhy not robosubs?
- philk 17y agoBecause sealing the thing would cost a lot more money. Containerised shipping is all about reducing overall expense.