We’re excited to announce our newest project: an attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean with an unmanned autonomous boat. In Summer 2018 we will launch the vessel from L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland where it will begin its 5,000 km voyage to Ireland. So far there have been 27 attempts to cross the Atlantic Ocean with an autonomous boat but all have failed.  It’s a daunting task and the challenges are endless: hurricanes, sharks, equipment failures and more.

The last time we boated across the Atlantic it was by rowboat; this trip will draw on that knowledge but it will be much different.  It will be unmanned, solar-powered and much quicker. Along the way, the boat will record oceanographic and environmental data to better help us understand our oceans. We’ll be able to watch the boat using trackers and understand the conditions it’s facing through the various sensors and cameras.   It is a much more virtual expedition than any of our previous ones, but in many ways that makes it more exciting.

If successful we’ll receive a Guinness World record and the boat will be the first autonomous vessel to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Just as importantly, this boat crossing will showcase technological innovation, promote environmental stewardship, and involve schools to inspire future generations.  We’ll be live broadcasting the position of our boat as well as data from its sensors so that the public as well as the students involved in our educational outreach program can follow the boat alongside us.

We’ll be using a solar-powered trimaran that is in the prototype development stage.  Our first sea trials testing the structure of the boat went well and now we’re working with the University of Victoria Engineering Students to develop the systems that will allow it to self-navigate.

You can find out more on our website at https://angusadventures.com/expedition/autonomous-ocean/.