Mahi 2 is the first autonomous vessel to cross the Atlantic
by Solbian 20 Mar 2022 17:54 AEDT
Mahi 2 reached the shore in Martinique after 8000km and 6 months at sea. The autonomous vessel, powered only by solar energy, left A Coruña, Spain on September 22, 2021 at 7 am and is the first of its kind to complete an Atlantic crossing.
Despite losing satellite connection in January, the small vessel continued its journey independently until the end. The project Mahi team is currently planning on going to Martinique in order to retrieve it.
Born from a Belgian team of passionate engineers, Mahi is a mono-hull measuring 4 x 1 x 0.5 meter. The hull is made of composite materials and designed to be streamlined, strong and light. The boat communicate by exchanging data through an onboard modem, GPS and automatic identification system. The brain of the boat is a self-developed software running on embedded microprocessors to steer, communicate and manage the energy flows onboard.
The electric system on board consists of two Torqeedo battery packs, Solbian solar panels and several electric consumers such as the Torqeedo electro-motor, the bilge pumps, steering actuator and electronics.
Several sensors are fitted on board: temperature sensors, conductivity and dissolved oxygen, cameras, AIS and more.
This achievement paves the way to a series of future applications, Mahi can measure basic atmospheric and oceanographic parameters over vast areas of the world's oceans.
What the drone will do for the transport of goods by use of unmanned aerial vehicles, Mahi will do for the transport of goods across the oceans. The unmanned vessel can also be deployed to inspect eco-sensitive marine regions, crucial parts in offshore wind turbine parks and hard to reach stretches of the seas.
More information visit projectmahi.com.