Technology
A research group led by Tokai University
Professor Yutaka Terao developed a small ship of wave propulsion that can navigate only by wave force. The hydrofoil wing below the front part of the
ship creates propulsion using waves and allows the ship to navigate regardless
of the wave direction. Because it navigates only by wave force, it can negative
indefinitely as long as it gets waves. Made of rigid urethane, the model is
equipped with the global positioning system and microcomputer for arithmetic
processing using information on the navigation point, allowing for the autonomous
navigation.
It is 1.2 m long and 0.9 m wide with displacement
of 5.6 kg. The test navigation was conducted for about 30 m on the coast of
Shizuoka Prefecture. It has reportedly the ability to run at 720 m per hour. This
is the world’s first unmanned ship that can navigate only by dint of wave
force, according to the professor. Because it does not need an engine, it can
be used for the measurement of tsunami, observation of waters and undersea volcanoes,
and long term voyage for observation. The ship can travel as long as the wind
velocity is less than 5 meters per second at the present stage. The ship was
not able to navigate in another experiment because it was adrift in the midst
of a gale with a velocity of 11 meters per second. The research team is making
strenuous efforts to make the ship navigate under any circumstances.
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