Just as Tesla faces a massive recall (with talk that their self-driving software switches to human mode right before the moment of impact during a crash so that human drivers get blamed instead of the AI) word comes out of the first every fully autonomous transoceanic voyage. A successful trip that could help save fuel and curb emissions by making voyages more efficient.
I Fucking Love Science explains:
“A large autonomous cargo ship has completed the world’s first transoceanic voyage navigating with AI, using an autonomous navigation solution developed by Avikus and HD Hyundai. The massive 180,000 square-meter-class vessel typically carries liquified natural gas (LNG), and traveled around 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) of the voyage from the Gulf of Mexico, through the Panama Canal and into a port in the South Chungcheong Province in Korea, using AI.
It took a total of 33 days, for which time the vessel navigated an optimal route for fuel efficiency and distance using the AI-based HiNAS 2.0 navigation system.
‘Avikus’ autonomous navigation technology was greatly helpful in this ocean-crossing test especially for maintaining navigating routes, autonomously changing directions, and avoiding nearby ships, which were all increasing ship crews’ work conveniences,’ said Captain Young-hoon Koh of the PRISM COURAGE in a statement.
The HiNAS 2.0 system first creates an optimal route for the desired journey, before controlling the vessel’s steering and speed while accounting for changes in weather and any other incoming ships. According to Avikus, the navigation system reduces fuel consumption by around 7 percent and greenhouse gas emissions by 5 percent.”
No word yet though if its capable of navigating around icebergs.
Greatest. Idea. Ever. 
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