Solar-powered ASV Roboat moves ahead in the green race

What is green about the first world robotic sailing champion? Dubbed, the ASV Roboat, this autonomous sailboat is making waves in the world of travel and navigation technology. Fitted with sensors, it can easily sail around pre-set race courses or even simply reach any nautical destination without human support. We’ll talk about its techie features after the jump and focus on the eco-friendly element for now. The Solar panels on the Roboat lend a green trait and also make it independent of carbon emitting gasoline. Moreover there’s a direct methanol fuel cell to top up the batteries as a backup.

Gizmag states that ‘The Laerling design was chosen because of its 60kg keel ballast and large, buoyant foam-filled body, which combine to make it very difficult to tip over and virtually unsinkable. The 800MHz/512 MB Mini-ITX computer controlling the Roboat runs a Linux operating system and a control software suite using Java and C++. Onboard sensors bring in GPS data for position and speed over ground, speed through water, ultrasonic wind speed and direction data, tilt-compensated compass, humidity, air and water temperature and water depth.’
The ASV team is also planning a more ambitious voyage in the near future, looking to set the fastest time between Europe and the Caribbean, an eight-week journey of around 4,000 miles.
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