20 knots is not all that slow. According to google average container ship speed is about 24 knots. Even the navy destroyer I used to sail on topped out at 30 knots using its gas turbines, which were only to be used for "serious purposes".
Re:The Mayflower Autonomous Ship Project
by contingencies on Monday April 20, 2020 @11:44PM
(#22931643)
Very rough scale with respect to sailing vessels around 30-55 foot length... multihulls (fast = 20 knots, common = 15 knots, many = 10 knots), monohulls (fast = 12 knots, common = 8-10 knots, many = 6-8 knots). For an ocean-going trimaran, their 10 knot speed is not fast. It is quite likely the vessel's apparently near-fixed "wingsail" represents a very conservatively-rigged configuration that is biased for stability instead of speed.
Thinking about it in the context of the colregs, 10kts is above the hull speed of a 40ft sailing yacht, and is probably plenty fast enough to sink that yacht in a collision.
The documents on the website mentioned 20 kts, so that's what I went with.
AFAIK, it's solar powered and not wind powered.
Re:The Mayflower Autonomous Ship Project
by adrianmonk on Monday April 20, 2020 @11:33PM
(#22931590)
The infographic from IBM's site (http://filecache.mediaroom.com/mr5mr_ibmnews/184460/IBM_Auto...) says:
> PROPULSION SYSTEM Hybrid power: window/solar (with diesel generator backup)
And while I'm at it:
> SPEED Max: 10 knots
> JOURNEY TIME - PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND TO PLYMOUTH, MA Duration: Approximately 12 days
Looking at that tiny wing sail, it’s gonna be sloowwww. Maybe that’ll help?