Autonomous Ships

#1

Post by protomyth » Wed, May 17, 2017, 3:44 PM UTC

Re: Autonomous Ships

#2

Post by LeonM » Wed, May 17, 2017, 6:18 PM UTC

As far as my knowledge goes about the shipping industry: ships are already 90% automated (since they simply go straight forward for days/weeks). There is not much to do for a captain/officer whilst in the middle of an ocean.

AFAIK most of the humans on board of a vessel are there to perform maintenance (most of which can be done during transit).

Yes, we can automate the last 10% to make the ship sail itself, but we'd still need humans on board to perform maintenance.

Re: Autonomous Ships

#3

Post by thomasthomas » Wed, May 17, 2017, 6:22 PM UTC

By one consultant's estimate, moreover, carrying sailors accounts for 44 percent of a ship's costs.

I find this hard to believe even if autonomous ships can be done without a bridge. The Emma Maersk has 15,000 TEU and a crew of 13 http://www.emma-maersk.com/specification/

Re: Autonomous Ships

#4

Post by JohnLeTigre » Wed, May 17, 2017, 6:22 PM UTC

As guess this would qualify as great news for sea-faring pirates.

Re: Autonomous Ships

#5

Post by keyme » Wed, May 17, 2017, 6:28 PM UTC

JohnLeTigre wrote: post #4

As guess this would qualify as great news for sea-faring pirates.

Hacking shipping route info, then sending pirate boarding parties would be pretty cyberpunk (and too easy for these drone ships to actually catch on).

Re: Autonomous Ships

#6

Post by keebEz » Wed, May 17, 2017, 6:30 PM UTC

LeonM wrote: post #2

As far as my knowledge goes about the shipping industry: ships are already 90% automated (since they simply go straight forward for days/weeks). There is not much to do for a captain/officer whilst in the middle of an ocean. AFAIK most of the humans on board of a vessel are there to perform maintenance (most of which can be done during transit). Yes, we can automate the last 10% to make the ship sail itself, but we'd…

Maybe fully autonomous ships should have maintenance performing robots then?

Re: Autonomous Ships

#7

Post by remarkEon » Wed, May 17, 2017, 6:33 PM UTC

JohnLeTigre wrote: post #4

As guess this would qualify as great news for sea-faring pirates.

But what if we just reduced the crew to a few security personnel?

Don't want to suggest automated security systems...too terminator for me at this point.

Re: Autonomous Ships

#8

Post by marcosdumay » Wed, May 17, 2017, 6:37 PM UTC

JohnLeTigre wrote: post #4

As guess this would qualify as great news for sea-faring pirates.

Or maybe not. There's also nobody to make hostage or force changing a course.

Re: Autonomous Ships

#9

Post by eeks » Wed, May 17, 2017, 6:45 PM UTC

JohnLeTigre wrote: post #4

As guess this would qualify as great news for sea-faring pirates.

A fully weaponized autonomous ship would be pretty badass.

Re: Autonomous Ships

#10

Post by bm1362 » Wed, May 17, 2017, 6:47 PM UTC

JohnLeTigre wrote: post #4

As guess this would qualify as great news for sea-faring pirates.

Most pirates aren't actually after cargo I'd assume. They're just taking hostages and ransoming them.