http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/ Engadget Comments for Harbor Wing AUSV can sail into the sunset all by itself http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/Aug 11th 2008 2:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/Aug 11th 2008 2:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/Aug 11th 2008 2:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/Aug 11th 2008 2:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/Aug 11th 2008 2:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/]]>Aug 11th 2008 2:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/
Hope this moves into the recreational realm, too.]]>Aug 11th 2008 3:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/Aug 11th 2008 3:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/Aug 11th 2008 5:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/Aug 11th 2008 2:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/
There's nothing that prevents this propulsion tech from being applied to larger vessels, and indeed HWT is working with various powered-ship operators and manufacturers to add airfoil systems to both existing and new-build ships not only to replace but in most cases to augment powered propulsion. Their testing and calculations, they say, indicate that they can offer fuel savings of up to 50% for short-haul, high-speed vessels such as ferries.

The Airfoil HWT X-1, the boat in the demos linked above, apparently can come to within approximately 15-17 degrees of the wind from either side and sail effectively. In addition, since the airfoil is linked to the boat only at the swiveling base, there are no stays or rigging required, making the operation much simpler especially for a computer-controlled vessel.

I'm excited to see where this system shows up! Maybe if Larry Ellison had waited a bit, his computer-controlled sailing yacht might have done better to use this!]]>Aug 11th 2008 3:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/Aug 11th 2008 3:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/
jk I know it's intended for research and I'm sure it would be useful on a larger scale for industrial boats. ]]>Aug 11th 2008 4:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/since the early 80s you could buy autohelm, tiller pilot which is now owned by raytheon/raymarine.
these aren't high-dollar novelty items, either. most sailboats, even daycruisers, have them on board as a 'virtual crew member'. they can be as simple as 'hold a course' down to following a plotted course with turns, tacking, etc.

that, combined with wind-vane (basically sail-link-to-tiller) means that you basically don't have to do anything... now nothing takes the place of a watchful eye and general awareness, it does free you up to do other things such as go to the bathroom, have a coffee or cook...
these solutions have been in place for a LONG time and are extremely effective and affordable...

]]>Aug 11th 2008 10:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/
Yes?...


...


No?]]>Aug 11th 2008 9:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/harbor-wing-ausv-can-sail-into-the-sunset-all-by-itself/Check out http://www.cclass.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=28 and scroll down for what are arguably the fastest in-shore course racing sailboats ever built. Like Sierran said, they can sail ridiculously close to the wind, because wings don't stall out like a soft sail at extreme angles of attack. I'm a little bit surprised by the hydrofoils, or rather the thought of keeping it flying by itself, and it'll be interesting to see how they control them. ]]>Aug 13th 2008 11:17AM