Autonomous water taxi service

[Blueboatman]

For all those who choose to keep their boats on river trots, pontoons and isolated moorings.

The days of planning your sailing (;and clubbing) around the operating hours of the club launch could be over!

Autonomous electric vehicle tech, able to handle real time scenarios eg involving pedestrians, cyclists and fast moving emergency vehicles , may be rolling out to a river near you!
No more late night dinghy trips or foreshortened happy hour, no “ will he/ won’t he“ uncertainties of calling up the club launch …
Now, a simple app on your phone should be able to summon the launch “on demand” ..


It is envisaged that because skippers are very, very particular about manoeuvring around their floating pride and joy, each yacht owner is given a go on the autonomous ferry and will show the AI just how to drive and park the ferry alongside their yacht, wrt wind and tide ..
this then gets programmed into the software, voila !

In an interesting side development, in order to protect the developer and operator from risks due to yottie inebriation, it is suggested that when summoning the ferry , the app user has to speak the yachts name phonetically as per a VHF call, without slurring ..
Whatcha think ? It could be a first .

 

[Wansworth]

For all those who choose to keep their boats on river trots, pontoons and isolated moorings.

The days of planning your sailing (;and clubbing) around the operating hours of the club launch could be over!

Autonomous electric vehicle tech, able to handle real time scenarios eg involving pedestrians, cyclists and fast moving emergency vehicles , may be rolling out to a river near you!
No more late night dinghy trips or foreshortened happy hour, no “ will he/ won’t he“ uncertainties of calling up the club launch …
Now, a simple app on your phone should be able to summon the launch “on demand” ..


It is envisaged that because skippers are very, very particular about manoeuvring around their floating pride and joy, each yacht owner is given a go on the autonomous ferry and will show the AI just how to drive and park the ferry alongside their yacht, wrt wind and tide ..
this then gets programmed into the software, voila !

In an interesting side development, in order to protect the developer and operator from risks due to yottie inebriation, it is suggested that when summoning the ferry , the app user has to speak the yachts name phonetically as per a VHF call, without slurring ..
Whatcha think ? It could be a first .

More jobs lost in deprived areas

 

[creeks]

It's called Roboat and here is a video of it in action on an Amsterdam canal:

 

[Blueboatman]

Yup
Each ferry would initially require a stand by assistant or, to use todays jargon , a F.O.O.L.

Floating Onboard Operative, licenced..

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Very little use on the tidal moorings I have always used unless combined with caterpillar tractor treads to take it up or down 1/4 mile of gravel causeway, or 10m of 1 in 3 slipway, and even then human judgement really needed.

And then we have the issue of who gets the dinghy to the boat in case we want to shift to nearer the distant pier or other mooring?

Its amazing what skills humans have and machines dont. Of course one could remote control a dinghy in some venues but that still needs an operative so actually more expensive than your manned water taxi.

 

[jdc]

But I like rowing back to my boat! I have long appreciated healthful exercise as the best way to avoid a hangover.

Although not exactly boaty, I remember (or, rather don't) cycling 20+ miles home from the stag party of our stroke (see, it is boaty after all), and waking next morning in my own bed with a clear head but no recollection at all of the cycle ride. Similar experience with dinghies; the night of the eclipse when returning from the Pandora to my mooring in Mylor is among many that spring to mind.

 

[mjcoon]

But I like rowing back to my boat! I have long appreciated healthful exercise as the best way to avoid a hangover.

Although not exactly boaty, I remember (or, rather don't) cycling 20+ miles home from the stag party of our stroke (see, it is boaty after all), and waking next morning in my own bed with a clear head but no recollection at all of the cycle ride. Similar experience with dinghies; the night of the eclipse when returning from the Pandora to my mooring in Mylor is among many that spring to mind.

Sounds like you already had autonomous transport!

 

[jdc]

Automaton transport anyway...

 

[DoubleEnder]

April 1

 

[Blueboatman]

It was an attempt at jest indeed.

But in a sense these things are already feasible as Creeks pointed out in post2.
Who knew? Not I