An uncrewed research vessel has just completed a three-week mapping mission in the North Atlantic, as BBC News reports.

The award-winning USV Maxlimer was controlled remotely via satellite for its mission to map an area of seafloor 1km below the surface, just off the continental shelf.

While the project demonstrates the capabilities of robotic sailing for marine science purposes, it also shows the potential for future appplications in freight and cargo.

BBC News has much more on the story HERE.

#Sailbots - The University of British Columbia's robotic sailboat team is looking for help from marinas on the West Coast as they make plans for next year's Microtransat Challenge.

The Canadian engineering students have taken first place two years running in the World Robotic Sailing Championship, which this year was held in Galway Harbour and hosted by NUI Galway.

But the holy grail of robotic sailing is the Microtransat Challenge, the competition to design and build a fully autonomous sea-going vessel under 4m long and capable of crossing the Atlantic unaided.

The first attempt at the challenge, launched by scientists from Aberystwyth University in Wales, ended in failure as the robotic yacht disappeared after reversing course.

UBC Sailbots intend to be more successful in setting their robo-boat to sea from Newfoundland in eastern Canada to Ireland, one of two sanctioned routes for the challenge.

But they need assistance from a willing marina along the Wild Atlantic Way to provide accommodation for team members, a place to pick up their boat and a support vessel to shadow their boat to the finish line.

Any interested parties can contact the team via their website at ubcsailbot.org.

#Robots - Co Galway will play host to what could be the future of sailing later this year in the shape of the World Robotic Sailing Championships, as The Irish Times reports.

While on the surface the idea might seem like Robot Wars on the water, there's some serious science and engineering muscle behind the competition - part of the Microtransat Challenge for robotic self-piloting sailing boats.

And the event will coincide with a conference at NUI Galway for researchers in the field of autonomous robotics, which has many potential applications in disaster and emergency response situations.

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.