>>> Nomadness
An impressive site with lots of various technology, boats, ideas and links. The walkthrough of the boat is impressive with details of the technologies and pictures.
Wave Powered Robot Boats
>>> Wave Powered Robot Boats
Interesting article covering wave powered, remote controlled robotic craft. A set of them are well on their way toward crossing the Pacific, while others are gathering data in the oceans around the world.
End of the article hints a bigger models to come. People have been traveling on "slow boats" for 1000’s of years. Wonder if it will come back around someday.
Laser technology used in restoring whaling ship
>>> Laser technology used in restoring whaling ship
The world’s last surviving wooden whaling vessel, the Charles W. Morgan, is being restored to sea-worthy condition again.
The above image is taken from a laser scanning system being used to map weak points and provide a detailed 3D reference model of the vessel.
iPad as a Chartplotter?
>>> iPad as a Chartplotter?
Seems doable… check out the Mad Marinerâ„¢ test.
I am impressed it handled being walked on, even if it was a child 🙂
Self-assembling boats?
>>> Self-assembling boats?
Who needs to build a boat when it can build itself?
You always knew those paper shapes you played with instead of paying attention to the teacher would come in handy.
Voith Schneider propeller
>>> Voith Schneider propeller
Thanks very much to Fred, who did my work for me and found a more detailed link about the previous Vertical Axis propellers. These drives are becoming more common on various workboats where maneuverability is key (fireboats, tugs, etc.)
Vertical Axis Propeller
Was at the U.S. Army Transportation Museum at Ft. Eustis, VA (a very well done and extensive museum that is well worth checking out) and saw many historical marine craft. Never thought about how much the Army has dealt with marine craft and technologies. Landing craft, tugs, etc. all played a huge roll.
Anyway, they had this Vertical Axis Propeller on display. I have seen studies of these in much more recent times, but didn’t know they had been tried and tested back when. Kind of a Z-drive without the Z… I can see some issues with trash getting tangled, maybe, but…
More building (or boat) printing
>>> More building (or boat) printing
Had a brief one on this before… I still think there’s a possibility to print a boat hull (or maybe the cabin also) with something like this. Having the right material and weight issues would be important.
90% efficient propeller?
>>> 90% efficient propeller?
Well, not really a propeller, but a mechanical "flipper" being studied by some MIT students. Check the film:
Power from slow moving water
>>> Power from slow moving water
A new technology take on gaining energy from moving water. Being aimed at power generation from rivers and the like, I wonder if there is any future application for power recovery on sail boats and the like. Maybe even something for when you are anchored in a current.
VIVACE is the first known device that could harness energy from most of the water currents around the globe because it works in flows moving slower than 2 knots (about 2 miles per hour.) Most of the Earth’s currents are slower than 3 knots. Turbines and water mills need an average of 5 or 6 knots to operate efficiently.
Michael Bernitsas
Michael Bernitsas, professor in the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, stands before a prototype of his VIVACE hydrokinetic energy device.
VIVACE stands for Vortex Induced Vibrations for Aquatic Clean Energy. It doesn’t depend on waves, tides, turbines or dams. It’s a unique hydrokinetic energy system that relies on "vortex induced vibrations."