The Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS) has arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts, just over two months after it set off from England. MAS made two unplanned stops along the way, and Maritime Executive reported that the ship had to be towed the final 40 kilometres due to US Coast Guard regulations.
MAS is the largest uncrewed vessel to complete a Transatlantic crossing, marking a turning point in the development of autonomous technology.
The goal of the project, which was launched in 2016 by ProMare, is ultimately to contribute towards the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to aid in the collection of marine research data.
The technology developed for the project included six AI-powered cameras, more than 30 sensors, and 15 edge devices, all of which contribute towards actionable recommendations for the ‘AI Captain’ to interpret and analyse.
Data collected from the sensors combined with the programming of the systems allowed the AI Captain to adhere to maritime law while making crucial split-second decisions, such as rerouting itself around hazards or marine animals, all without human interaction or intervention. The AI Captain was able to learn from the collected data, allowing it to make alternate choices, assess and optimise decisions, and manage risks.
