This is a little off topic, but I thought some of you would find these little (2 to 4 meters) sailboats interesting:

Robot boats in ocean race trials

The Microtransat Challenge

Now if Nikko could make one of these in a RTF, you wouldn’t need to built or pilot it; just launch it in the morning and come back in the afternoon to pick it up

Whow!

Can onboard gps & computers that give advice on when to tack in rc sailboat racing be far behind.
Cheers,
Phil Adams CR914 #1346 "Makani"

Originally Posted by philadams

Whow!

Can onboard gps & computers that give advice on when to tack in rc sailboat racing be far behind.
Cheers,
Phil Adams CR914 #1346 "Makani"

They already exist in full size. Maybe with miniaturization?

Great way to dodge customs and excise for bringing in all sorts of naughty stuff.

Untracable if it gets stopped.

Have a look here for a bigger autonomous version-

http://www.ghostship.org.uk/flash.htm

Somebody tried this with 'full size' Bolger Micro's a few decades back. The track was from eastern USA to the British Isles. Believe there were 4 or 6 boats total. I don't remember if any ever made the complete trip