Development of an innovative and sustainable sail-drone

Object of this work is the preliminary design and development of an innovative electric marine ASV (Autonomous Surface Vehicle). Propulsion of the drone is assured by a simplified sail system controlled by a system of electric actuators. All the electric systems are fed by the energy provided by a system of solar cells, so the autonomy of the proposed system is almost unlimited. The aim of this kind of sustainable marine vehicle is the exploration and the patrolling of wide marine areas with a near to null impact for marine environment and the possibility of a safe interaction with almost any kind of living being. Also the objective in terms of budget (few thousand of euros) is quite ambitious and justified by the fact that a decisive factor to burst the diffusion and the application of the proposed system is the cost reduction. Proposed vehicle have been designed and assembled thank to the voluntary work of a team of students aiming to build a vehicle able to participate to competitions dedicated to sail autonomous surface boats with the support of a team of private and academic sponsors. In this work main features of the vehicle and design criteria are explained. Preliminary testing activities, shown in the paper, substantially confirm feasibility and functionality of the proposed solution.