Solar-powered boat to make historical journey across the Atlantic
Solar Voyager, an autonomous solar-powered boat custom designed and built by Singapore-based engineers Isaac Penny and Christopher Sam Soon, is on its way to be the first of its kind to cross the Atlantic.
Isaac Penny and Christopher Sam Soon with Solar Voyager. <br> Image source: @Solar_Voyager
Singapore-based engineers Isaac Penny and Christopher Sam Soon may soon find their names in the record books for sending Solar Voyager, the world's first solar-powered, fully self-driving, unmanned boat across the Atlantic.
Custom designed and built by both engineers in their spare time over four years at a robotic surgery startup in Singapore, Solar Voyager is powered by a 280W array of solar panels and batteries for running at night. It is capable of traveling up to 5km/h. A mounted GoPro will record still images and videos of its historic journey.
Solar Voyager will be following pre-programmed GPS waypoints along its journey to Lisbon, Portugal. It will send back live information on its status (e.g. position, heading, speed, solar powered generated) and environment via satellite every 15 minutes. You also can track its journey on this website. The entire journey is expected to be completed in four months depending on weather conditions.
Solar Voyager is on its way to be the first fully powered self-driving boat to cross the Atlantic and the first unmanned boat to cross an ocean using solar power alone.
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