Big Picture

Diving in deep with AI to discover the hidden secrets of the sea

The Atlantic Ocean

The Mayflower Autonomous Ship project, led by marine research organisation ProMare and IBM, raises questions around our knowledge of oceans and the impact of AI on marine research.

These unmanned vessels run on solar energy and use IBM AI, automation, cloud, and edge technologies to provide a safer, more cost-effective alternative to manned ships. With no human crew, the vessel works alongside scientists and other autonomous ships to deepen our understanding of critical issues such as climate change, ocean plastic pollution and marine mammal conservation.

The development of marine autonomous systems also promises to transform oceanrelated industries such as shipping, oil and gas, telecommunications, security and defence and fishing and aquaculture.