AMAZING Sailboat Drones, US Navy Deploys 65 Foot Sailing Drone

Sailing Drones are WILD! The New Jersey drone sightings aren’t the only things making waves in the world of unmanned vehicles. Sailing drones are covering the world’s oceans taking pictures, sonar scanning, and mapping the seabed. The drones from Saildrone are being adopted by the US military for reconnaissance and civilian sailboat drones are being deployed for hurricane study and weather tracking. Today we talk about sailing drones including Saildrone models like the Saildrone Explorer, Surveyor, and Voyager. We look at the modern technology that makes sailing drones a wave of the future.
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[@kblodorn]

Berthed next to one in Half Moon Bay right now!

[@UncleJoeLITE]

When I was in the RAN, we were working on small sail drones. Solar & battery tech was too primitive in the 90s, but now we're in business. Thanks Tim. 🇦🇺 ⚓

[@johnwood6640]

“Drone sightings are a big buzz right now.” Your writing has stepped up. Enjoyable as always. Thank you.

[@CheapHomeTech]

Another way of looking at this. The yearly upkeep on an F35 is about 15 million. We currently have 450 of them. Future plans call for 2,500 of them. This isn't taking into account the billions of dollars needed to make them. If I did the math right with just the yearly maintenance cost of only the F35s 19,000 of these sail-drones could be made, deployed, and maintained. It's starting to look like drones are the future.

[@CheapHomeTech]

If 19,000 of these are deployed to cover the oceans of the world, about 140 million square miles, there would be one drone covering a circle with a radius of 48 miles. 48 miles is exactly how far sailboat radar like the Halo24 can see.

[@truthurts1692]

but you're comparing the cost of research assets vs high-end weapons platforms. If (when) they put ordinance on them everything changes. Not looking for an argument, but I don't see the point in the comparison...

[@CheapHomeTech]

@@truthurts1692 Possibly. I'm the type of person that thinks you use the tools you've got.

[@MindBodySoulOk]

There is now zero reason for these fight jets

[@UncleJoeLITE]

I'd have to argue that's a very faulty comparison. Current air doctrine calls for developing UAVs, like our Loyal Wingman / Ghost Bat, to work with manned fighters, not replace them. Wingmen can be configured as weapons taxis, sensor extensions, EW etc, they can also attract any incoming fire. Nice to disagree civilly. 🇦🇺 🦘 ⚓

[@jimwinkelbauer2772]

Saw one of these close up when it was in Erie, Pa in summer of '23, it was pretty cool.

[@jackechan1311]

Fascinating. Thanks, Tim!

[@richardblair919]

Eye opening story, really interesting.

[@adrianbishop2636]

What's the legality of the COLREGS with drones? Do drones ever have right of way?

[@MindBodySoulOk]

They should never have the right of way and they should hopefully have stout obstacle avoidance.

[@ylemoine1]

Remember that COLREGS clearly say that every captain has the obligation to avoid a collision regardless of ‘right of way’. After all, if you hit or are hit, COLREGS only help you make a claim and lay fault if you survive in the first instance. The priority is on both vessels. I do agree, however, that priority should be on the manned vs unmanned vessel.

[@ot0m0t0]

when do we get that cewl wings for sails?

[@carrierserena]

This is awesome

[@Civilunit]

Our airplanes already almost fly themselves and self driving cars will be a thing its just a matter of when so Boats getting the same tech seems like a good idea. As the tech gets better the learning curve gets a bit more approachable and gets more people into blue water with more help if they need it.

[@matteframe]

these guys are amazing, not scary

[@user-df2ow9gz3v]

Imagine I have a 23 feet sailboat and in the middle of the Atlantic that I decided to cross, for some reason (technical problem, ...) one of these drones collides with my boat and sinks it in the middle of the night, will the US Navy take care of everything to save my passengers and me, all the cost of the rescue process and a new boat to replace my current one, I'm not talking about the cost if someone dies. For me I think these Drones are dangerous. On the other hand installing this system on a real boat could really simplify life to cross the ocean solo or with family.

[@matteframe]

you are far more likely to run into a drone than vice versa, and that shouldn't happen if you're paying attention to AIS

[@Nerd3927]

@@matteframe for some reason (technical problem, ...) But, yeah technical problems are so very rare......dream on.

[@matteframe]

@@Nerd3927 Show me a single example of a drone malfunctioning and running into a boat. Oh wait, you can't. But I can give you hundreds of examples of ships hitting boats and boats running into each other and aground due to negligence, poor planning, and bad tech. The proof is in the puddling, smart guy

[@Nerd3927]

@@matteframe There are a few more human sailed boats then drones... Point is who will take care of costs, Will it say around to exchange insurance data, will the drone offer help as it is obligated by SOLAS to do? Or will it just sail on after sinking your boat....

[@user-pu2nl4sj4s]

Iran tried to steal one? LOL. Please give proof. A skeptical sailor here. I do think that weather forecasting could be greatly enhanced by the data the drones send back. Might even save a few sailors by using them to locate boats in distress and send realtime video back to rescuers.

[@richardelliott8352]

I am able to take the U. S. navy's word on it, and I have sailed those middle eastern waters when working in the oil trade. Not an expert, but I did brush up against the local culture when docked, on and off the ship. matter of fact, I have sailed around the world if you want sailor credibility, and don't see any reason why you need your hand held to educate yourself if you are skeptical. perhaps looking into the culture and politics of the area would help.

[@user-pu2nl4sj4s]

@ You are right. I did some more investigation. The culture and belief system there is another matter also. I will always be skeptical because only fools believe everything they read or hear or see on mass media or KZbin, etc,. Skepticism hopefully leads to the truth.

[@ysesq]

The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy briefly captured two U.S. unmanned surface vehicles in the Red Sea on Thursday, a U.S. Navy official confirmed to USNI News. Frigate IRIS Jamaran (FFLG 76) seized two Saildrone Explorer USVs, which are operated by U.S. 5th Fleet, on Thursday afternoon before returning them to U.S. custody the next day. “The vessels posed no risk to naval traffic and had been operating in the general vicinity of the Southern Red Sea for more than 200 consecutive days without incident,” 5th Fleet said in a statement. The USVs were collecting imagery near international waters when the IRIN seized and detained them, USNI News understands. In a Friday evening statement, 5th Fleet said destroyers USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119) and USS Nitze (DDG-94) obtained the USVs from the IRIN on Friday morning local time. “At around 2 p.m. (local time) on Sept. 1, U.S. 5th Fleet detected the Iranian ship approaching both unmanned vessels and removing them from the water. U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers USS Nitze (DDG 94) and USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) were operating nearby and immediately responded. Nitze and Delbert D. Black also each launched an MH-60R Sea Hawk from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 48,” according to 5th Fleet. “Nitze and Delbert D. Black remained on scene communicating with the Iranian warship to deescalate the situation and recover the seized Saildrones. The Iranian warship released the Saildrones at 8 a.m. on Sept. 2.”

[@user-pu2nl4sj4s]

@ Thankyou for that. I stand corrected. It does beg the question as to why the US Navy was so interested in the drones unless they were using them for a military purpose. Obviously, we don’t want the Iranians getting our military hardware no matter what it is. The whole concept is extremely fascinating no matter how the drones are used. Looking forward to updates from Practical Sailor, Etc,.

[@STRUTZKOFF]

my neighbour built moulds for sail boat drones a few years ago,

[@robertgold2643]

Spotted one of these off Maui a year ago, too far off to study it though. Thought it was some crack-pot in a home-built micro solo navigator lol

[@grayandgray]

Sounds like my next sailboat needs to be a Saildrone. Just need modest cabin and gallery, no worry about hurricanes, what's the downside? It sounds like I can find one myself to try it if saildrone doesn't care when one "disappears".

[@TheOldGuy]

I would be more interested in the free standing sail wing used and how it and the control system that could be applied to to a monohull cruising sailboat, or a catamaran, for people. I suspect the down wind performance is not very good, but that could be addressed with the addition of traditional sails. Would be very interesting to see the polars for these sail drones.

[@DariaBlackwell]

Pretty cool unless you're a bluewater sailor and come across one out there. Do they transmit their position? You only mentioned they have AIS and detect other boats. Can they detect and avoid whales and other sea creatures on the surface?

[@tonybarnes3858]

of course

[@keving3639]

Not a fan of big brother, but clearly it will help with security & i think the weather forecasting we rely on will improve. As far as the person concerned with colisions fair call, the AIS & radar i think would be 1st class so hope no reports of even close calls. I work on an iron ore mine in the pilbara West. Australia & those huge dump trucks are robots controlled in Perth a thousand km's away. Never here of any issues.

[@stuartsw]

This is way cool, but only b/c it provides new options from a sailing platform, many of them contributing to scientific knowledge. I do not want AI running my sailing vessel. That said, in a difficult out sea state, it would be great to have AI able to combine forward and aft wave detection to provide a better autopilot experience.

[@walterj115]

Hi sailors! I have a dream - to sail around the world with my dog and experience life on the open sea. But there's one thing I’m missing - a sailboat. I can’t afford one, but I truly believe that with the right boat, my dog and I could create unforgettable memories, exploring new places together. If you have a yacht you no longer use or need, I’d be forever grateful if you could consider giving it to us. We promise to care for it as our own, and it would mean the world to us. Thank you for reading!

[@davidg7624]

Amazing. Just think what the military can do with these.

[@bigchief4044]

Great. 🙄

[@tonybarnes3858]

let's not

[@CheapHomeTech]

So they do their work for as little as $3,500 a day. They are deployed for up to a year. So each one is costing at a minimum 1.3 million a year? Round up to 2 million. So a thousand of these could be purchased and used at the same cost as one B2 stealth bomber at 2.13 billion?

[@kawaiiduck5924]

My business partners in Columbia are very interested in purchasing one of these drone boats. We’ll make you an offer you can’t refuse.

[@willweaver5024]

Say the Voyager model in St. Lucia. 33ft long. We watched them splash it from the boatyard there. They are dark green, the flag is all black. I took photos, but I guess I cannot post them here. Do you

[@bigchief4044]

More drones, what could possibly go wrong? 🥴

[@Paul-ou1rx]

"Self sailing" sailboats. Elon Musk: Say no more.

[@ohgary1]

I would be interested to know what the regulations are regarding salvage rights of an uncrewed vessel..

[@skunk207]

well the ceo said if someone takes it keep it so i guess that is consent right?

[@Secondwind2010]

My Autopilot stinks too.

[@DavidGreen-hp5yq]

Iran? Likely propa^H^H story.

[@DavidGreen-hp5yq]

AI in sail-drones? Crap and another attempt to weed out the useless people.