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The first unmanned sailboat to traverse the Atlantic has crossed the finish line.<\/p>\nThe first unmanned sailboat to traverse the Atlantic has crossed the finish line.<\/p>\n
The SB Met Sailbuoy traveled 80 days at sea and 3,000 kilometers from Newfoundland in Canada to Ireland. The wind varied from calm to a strong gale during the crossing.<\/p>\n
The Sailbuoy navigates the oceans autonomously \u2013 transmitting back data at regular intervals.<\/p>\n
A social media post from the company behind it, Offshore Sensing AS, said: \u201cThe Sailbuoy made it and we are very proud of her.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe SB Met is the first ever unmanned surface vehicle to complete an Atlantic crossing.\u201d<\/p>\n
It added: \u201cAnd she is still going strong. Many thanks to all who made this possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Sailbuoy is designed to use very little power. The internal autopilot battery pack holds enough energy to navigate for six months without charging.<\/p>\n
Batteries are recharged using solar panels.<\/p>\n
The Sailbuoy was originally designed and tested to withstand the environmental stresses of the North Sea \u2013 cold, severe weather and little sunlight during the winter.<\/p>\n
Its manufacturers said: \u201cOur extensive testing in these conditions has shown us that robustness is vital for a surface vessel to withstand months at sea.\u201d<\/p>\n
Testing has been ongoing for almost a decade.<\/p>\n
When navigating, the Sailbuoy sails much like a traditional sailing boat, tacking to make headway against the wind.<\/p>\n
Data is transmitted to and from shore in real time via satellite. It is controlled and monitored via a website.<\/p>\n
Those involved in the record-breaking feat included the Marine Institute\u2019s Centre for Applied Ocean Technology, Christan Michelsen Research and the MicroTransat team.<\/p>\n
The Microtransat Challenge is a transatlantic race for autonomous boats. The race aims to stimulate the development of autonomous boats through friendly competition.<\/p>\n
The competition was open to anybody including private individuals, universities, schools and companies.<\/p>\n
Competitors were free to choose any route they wish. Only the start and end points were defined.<\/p>\n
However, competitors were advised to keep clear of shipping lanes, keep to international waters and to make use of the trade winds.<\/p>\n
The maximum length of sailing boats was 2.4 meters.<\/p>\n