Robot Boats Prepare for Trans-Atlantic Challenge

Posted 14 May 2008 at 19:06 UTC by steve

Robots entering the 2008 Microtransat competition will set sail on the Atlantic Ocean from Viana do Castelo, Portugal sometime after September 29. Hopefully at least one of the robots will make it to the finish line, located between 10 degrees and 25 degrees North and 60 degrees West. A TimesOnline article offers more details on the race and some of the robots. One robot, the Beagle B, generates 30 watts of power from solar panels to power an array of sensors, actuators, and 400Mhz Gumstix CPU running Linux. Other competitors include the FEUP Autonomous Sailboat with its composite hull designed by a Portuguese kayak builder, the Mark III Roboboat from the United States, and the Shoogle Nifty II from the UK.