Sailbotix USV starts transpacific journey

Students from Central Middle School in Victoria(BC, Canada) in partnership with Canadian USV developer Sailbotix, have launched a one-meter robotic boat on a transcacific journey from Ucluelet, Canada, to Kushima, Japan. If successful, it will be the smallest vessel ever to cross an ocean.

The uncrewed, autonomous boat, packed with scientific sensors, is being tracked and controlled via satellite through an online portal. Its launch marks the culmination of an innovative STEM learning project in which students explored ocean currents, hydrodynamics, and deep-sea science.

A special cargo compartment carries drawings and gifts for students at a school in Kushima, Japan, who will receive the boat upon its arrival. If the mission succeeds, a live video conference will be arranged to foster a cross-cultural connection—bridging two nations through a shared adventure in
science and exploration. Several educational institutions, including Dalhousie University and the University of British Columbia, have previously attempted similar ocean-crossing missions, only to have their vessels succumb to the unforgiving sea. Adding to the challenge, this launch took place in late winter— deliberately chosen to test the boat’s resilience in rough conditions and with low solar power.

Since its departure, the vessel has already endured 13-foot waves and gale-force winds. Currently, the boat has traveled over 200 km and has 4,114 km remaining to reach Hawaii, the first milestone on its journey. From there, it will continue another 5,000 km to Japan, with an estimated total voyage time of 7–8 months.

⚙ The core design for this unique vessel was developed by Sailbotix, a Victoria-based technology startup specializing in micro-robotic boats for deep-ocean research and education. The collaboration with Central Middle School is part of Sailbotix’s educational program, which immerses students in hands-on STEM learning through real-world ocean exploration.

Follow the mission: https://io.adafruit.com/Colin321/dashboards/satellite-boat?kiosk=true

?? Source: Sailbotix