The cool 100ft MARS – The Mayflower Autonomous Research Ship represent the first autonomous, wind- and solar-powered research vessel to sail across the Atlantic Ocean and is being developed in a partnership between Plymouth University, autonomous craft specialists MSubs and Shuttleworth Design.
The revolutionary trimaran boat will be equipped with a variety of drones which will enable it to conduct experiments during its journey. After a year-long testing phase, the scheduled Atlantic crossing should take place in 2020, marking the 400th anniversary of the original Mayflower sailings from Plymouth England to the North American continent.