摘要 |
<p>Apparatus, systems, and methods for autonomous vessels such as lifeboats, ships, and other watercraft, and navigation thereof. Vessels according to the invention may be powered by natural, or renewable, energy sources such as solar and wind energy. Preferably the vessels are autonomously navigable to destinations identified by on-board or remotely-accessed navigation systems. In one aspect the invention provides a self-navigating vessel comprising a propulsion system (104), a steering system (106), a navigation system (200), and a power supply system (300). The navigation system (200) is adapted for identifying a target destination and providing control signals to the propulsion system (104), the navigation system (106), or both, and optionally to other systems or devices in order to cause the vessel to navigate a course to the target destination.</p> |