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From: ems@amdahl.UUCP (ems)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Automated craft  (sailing ships)
Message-ID: <2378@amdahl.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 12-Dec-85 12:23:40 EST
Article-I.D.: amdahl.2378
Posted: Thu Dec 12 12:23:40 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 14-Dec-85 23:37:33 EST
References: <8512042003.AA25298@s1-b.arpa>
Organization: Circle C Shellfish Ranch, Shores-of-the-Pacific, Ca
Lines: 44

>>> But why should one want to integrate manned and unmanned space travel?
>> For the same reason we don't have unmanned cargo planes (or trains, or
>> ships). It makes good sense to have people there in case something
>> goes wrong
>
> I realize that this is straying quite far off the subject, but the above
> comment brought something to mind, and I wonder if anyone else recalls
> details about this: I have a vague recollection of a plan for automated
> and unmanned ocean-going *sailing* ships to haul bulk cargo which has no
> requirement for speedy delivery or is in any way perishable (like ore or
> raw materials, for example).

I saw this described in Popular Science at the height of the oil crisis.

> These would use a variety of sensors to feed data to the automated
> controller, and high-tech sail designs (like rotor types or other
> advanced concepts) to provide a method of moving quantities of material
> at very low per-ton cost, there being no fuel expense or sailors' wages
> to pay. I believe I saw drawings of proposed configurations and some
> brief description, but nothing more. Does anyone else recall this
> concept?
>
The Japanese made a demonstration ship or two using partial sail power.
I saw an article on them in a local (?) paper when first launched.
The idea was to use sail assist rather than 100% sail.  One does not
eliminate the whole crew, just the additional crew which would be
needed to man the sails.  Last I heard the trials were going OK, and
fuel consumption was significantly lower.  Then we entered the era of
the Oil Glut and not a peep have I heard since ...

Economics uber alles?

> As far as the safety hazards of such an unmanned device, I don't recall
> seeing any discussion of that aspect.

It was expected that there would be a small crew on board for purposes
of maintenance, crisis control, and safety.  There would still be a
captain sailing the ship.  If you have never been adrift in a sailboat
with no wind, the current pushing you toward the rocks, and the engine
being reluctant to start; you havn't been sailing!
--
E. Michael Smith  ...!{hplabs,ihnp4,amd,nsc}!amdahl!ems

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