If you're traveling the Atlantic and you come across a ship without a crew, it won't be the Flying Dutchman. It will be called the Mayflower, and it will be an autonomous research ship (Mayflower Autonomous Research Ship or MARS).
At the moment the Mayflower is reportedly in the plans from the University of Plymouth (will uses wind and solar energy) and will probably set sail from Plymouth, England in 2020. It should be noted that the researchers are still looking for funding.
Using one or both of its sails, Mayflower will be able to move autonomously at speeds up to 20 nodes (37 km / h). Its length will be 32,5 meters.
On days when there is no wind, it will move with its electric engine and it will hit 12,5 knots (23 km / h).
The solar cells will be able to produce enough current to be more than enough. Some of these cells will be in a collapsible wing, which will only open under conditions of absolute lull.
Navigation will be through a system that combines GPS technology with a collision avoidance technology.
According to the design company MSubs:
"The goal is to build one or more useful spaces loadυ, σαν ένα διαστημικό λεωφορείο, στο οποίο θα τοποθετηθεί ευρύς εξοπλισμός για την υποστήριξη διαφόρων ερευνητικών work. "
"Equally important, we conduct research on renewable sources energy and propulsion systems for marine vessels, research for a software with automated and autonomous functions, advanced satellite communications, and cooperative behavior between nested automated and autonomous systems that will operate under, and above water simultaneously.”