Rolls Royce is not limited to designs for itname luxury cars. The British transport company plans to develop remote-controlled cargo ships and expects to build the first one in 2020.
As an idea it is not impossible. Ground crews could control every aspect of an autonomous shipy, with virtual reality devices, cameras, sensors, and even drones monitorings where they will spot issues that no human would ever see.
Consequently, the Rolls Royce plans ships that will not have crew within them. In theory, a man will be able to direct many ships, and the navy profession could disappear overnight.
The company claims that autonomous ships will not need a bridge or residential space and there will be much more room for goods. It will be safer and more effective since there will be no human errors. Robotic ships will reduce the number of seafarers and require the remote specialized crew to handle more complex tasks without compromising.
The aim of the company is to launch the first 2020 remote-controlled cargo ships.