Colreg Alert: 40kt 41' Drone to be Patrolling Channel!

[dom]

According to today's Telegraph:

"The 41-foot unmanned boat with radar and camera and capable of speeds of more than 40 knots was tested on Thursday in the straits of Dover as a new technique to help detect and intercept migrant boats and catch smugglers. "
Home Office to deploy 'stealth squad' of speedboats and jet skis to catch Channel migrants

One wonders:
(a) if the Artificial Intelligence/Computer systems controlling these vessels will follow the Colregs per se or the many notions people have on here
and
(b) how the AI bots will interpret the Colregs' many grey areas

 

[Stemar]

Having spent far too much time here, I'd program it to think, "Is there a possible risk of collision? If yes, bugger off", but that won't work if it makes the mistake of trying to come into Portsmouth on a sunny Sunday afternoon, or any number of daily situations in the Dover Straits

 

[ryanroberts]

The cost of the "AI" is surely going to outstrip the wage costs of some people to steer the boat, particularly as it will need people on shore monitoring it. That's assuming it even works. Let's hope it doesn't plow into a boat full oh photogenic migrants, we will never hear the end of it.

 

[RichardS]

(b) how the AI bots will interpret the Colregs' many grey areas

But there are only two which were both discovered on this forum:

1) The backed headsail conundrum

2) The TSS separation zone crossing conundrum

I don't think either of these will be of any concern to the drone boat.

Richard

 

[Biggles Wader]

If there is no one aboard how will it intercept migrants and catch smugglers? The best it could do is tell a grown up to come out in a real boat with a real crew to do the job.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

If there is no one aboard how will it intercept migrants and catch smugglers? The best it could do is tell a grown up to come out in a real boat with a real crew to do the job.

Skynet is coming....

 

[Alicatt]

If there is no one onboard, can it be boarded and claimed for salvage as it has been abandoned?

 

[LittleSister]

If there is no one aboard how will it intercept migrants and catch smugglers? The best it could do is tell a grown up to come out in a real boat with a real crew to do the job.

I suspect you are mistaking the fundamental nature of the task. Certain newspapers have wailed 'Something must be done!'. The Government can now say 'Something has been done'.

 

[Giblets]

If there is no one onboard, can it be boarded and claimed for salvage as it has been abandoned?

At 40+ knots?

 

[25931]

If there is no one aboard how will it intercept migrants and catch smugglers? The best it could do is tell a grown up to come out in a real boat with a real crew to do the job.

Perhaps the idea is to keep crossing the immigrants bows being closer each time creating an uncomfortable sea.

 

[clyst]

Perhaps the idea is to keep crossing the immigrants bows being closer each time creating an uncomfortable sea.

Maybe it is armed to the teeth .

 

[25931]

Maybe it is armed to the teeth .

A bow wave can be a powerful weapon against a small boat.

 

[Daydream believer]

"Intercept" surely means "Go & collect them with a manned craft" with the intention of bringing them safely to Dover so they can be processed & allotted a suitable "place of refuge"
It will not stop the boats, only streamline the collection process & enable immigration to intercept every boat thus ensuring that they all get hotel rooms.
It would save patrolling for hours on end with a boat manned with a crew of 8 or more.
Bow waves may sink small craft, but can one seriously think that the UK govt could get away with that.

 

[prv]

If there is no one onboard, can it be boarded and claimed for salvage as it has been abandoned?

No more than you can cut the anchor cable on the Southwest Shingles buoy and weigh it in for scrap.

Pete

 

[dunedin]

The cost of the "AI" is surely going to outstrip the wage costs of some people to steer the boat, particularly as it will need people on shore monitoring it. That's assuming it even works. Let's hope it doesn't plow into a boat full oh photogenic migrants, we will never hear the end of it.

Then a quick search for the crony who is getting paid for the tech, that seems to be the most common answer these days.

 

[Alicatt]

At 40+ knots?

Never said it would be easy...

 

[Daydream believer]

Then a quick search for the crony who is getting paid for the tech, that seems to be the most common answer these days.

Follow the money??

 

[LadyInBed]

At 40+ knots?

Ramming speed to mow down illegals inflatables, as with no-one on board they can't be picked up!

 

[Daydream believer]

Maneuverability from a remote position whilst observing through a camera must be quite difficult at 40kts
As for mowing down those in illegal inflatables- that would go down well with the media. If anyone wanted "murdering" perhaps one should direct their attention toward the French authorities, who are failing to prevent the farce happening in the first place.
It might also be considered that perhaps there might JUST be 10% who really do need asylum. If one were a person who has lost everything inc part of one's family, are we a nation so devoid of passion that we want to drown them mid channel?
The other 90% however, are a different kettle of fish & the French can trawl them up as part of their new found quotas perhaps.

 

[atol]

it better not have propellers those fishermen are always chucking bits of floating line overboard