Startup develops first self-driving boat

Published On: July 27, 2017Categories: Industry News, News

Boston, Massachusetts-based Sea Machines Robotic Inc. is developing the industry’s first self-driving boat. The company is using a Safeboat Defender 250 as a test model in what it hopes will be its first unmanned surface vessel (USV). Sea Machines plans to develop an autonomous control system that would initially be used in commercial work for cleaning up oil spills and ocean surveying. The boat will use GPS coordinates to program its course and radar to detect other craft in the area. The company is now working on a “Home” button for the boat that will enable it to drive itself back to the dock.