The Microtransit Challenge.

This is a testament to Moore's law.

Ten years ago this was 100% science fiction.  Five years ago someone could talk about it.  2006 they held it on a lake.

This year its across the Atlantic.

...and it's at hobby prices.

One of the entrants, the Pinta, cost the competitors £2,500.  Umm...you could build it in your garage if you had the programming chops.

Big deal you say, it's just a glorified model sailboat.  Well yes and no.  Yes they look like simple little sailboats but they've got: Solar power, automated sensors, GPS positioning and course navigation software.  They obviously have a much simpler algorithm than the DARPA Grand Challenge cars, but still need to get from point A to point B.

Also this technology will be a boon to climate science.  At £2,500 a pop you can make hundreds and send them out into the oceans and go anywhere and report back anything you can imagine.  A mobile science buoy.

News Article: Pinta the robot sailing boat takes on Atlantic challenge