China's Taizhou Fengye Shipbuilding has completed construction of an unmanned catamaran vessel.
Zhikun has a length of 19.9 metres, a beam of 5.5 metres, a draught of 0.9 metre, a depth of 2.4 metres, and an electric propulsion system that consists of batteries, DC motors, and azimuthing thrusters that can deliver a speed of 15 knots.
The vessel is perhaps most notable for its systems that permit either remote operation from a human controller at a shore station or fully autonomous navigation and berthing/unberthing. There are seven sub-systems installed including those for remote communication, route planning, positioning, and collision avoidance. Other sub-systems will enable an operator to monitor the condition of the vessel's hull and propulsion.
Construction of Zhikun was completed in compliance to China Classification Society rules. Funding for the construction was provided by the Hefei Innovation Research Institute of Beihang University.
| Zhikun | |
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| Type of vessel: | Unmanned demonstrator vessel |
| Classification: | China Classification Society |
| Flag: | China |
| Builder: | Taizhou Fengye Shipbuilding, China |
| Length overall: | 19.9 metres |
| Beam: | 5.5 metres |
| Draught: | 0.9 metre |
| Depth: | 2.4 metres |
| Maximum speed: | 15 knots |
| Other electronics: | Remote communication system; route planning system; positioning system; collision avoidance system |