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The Fastest Boat
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#Post#: 2--------------------------------------------------
Creating The Fastest Boat
By: Jacqui Date: January 26, 2017, 3:25 am
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Hi people! Here's some hot news about the new project team which
is trying to design and build a boat that will travel at awesome
speeds. Check it out!
"How fast can a boat go? The current World Record for a manned
craft is 317.6 mph, set by Ken Warby in 'Spirit of Australia'
way back in 1978. Almost four decades later, no-one has been
able to go faster. It seems that it is virtually impossible for
a human being to react quickly enough to deal with the high
levels of kinetic energy, aerodynamic and hydrodynamic effects
that threaten to destroy any boat travelling at extreme speeds
on open water."
"We are taking a different approach by introducing state of the
art technology into a radical new hull design, which will
incorporate rocket power and replace the pilot with
sophisticated AI (Artificial Intelligence). A team of seven
experts has been commissioned to handle Hull Design, Propulsion
Systems, Stability Devices, Computer Control Systems, Venue
Management, Sponsorship and Marketing, and Team Management. The
project is being organised in four main stages:"
"Stage One ('Feasibility Study') is in progress and should be
complete by April 2017. As well as producing a preliminary
design for the vessel and a holistic report on all the elements
relating to successful operation at high speed, we are also
negotiating with a sponsor who will have Naming Rights. At that
point a dedicated website will be launched as part of the
marketing drive to raise both public and media interest in the
upcoming record attempts."
"Stage Two ('Design Development') is expected to be complete by
Summer 2018. It will comprise the construction of a series of
prototype boats, in a process of evolution that will attempt to
refine and prove the concept of every system involved, to ensure
that these systems are all capable of functioning in a mutually
supportive manner, and to develop the management strategies for
operating the boat at increasingly higher speeds."
"Stage Three ('Full Scale Testing') will take one or two years,
and will include all the work needed to prepare for and execute
the forthcoming record attempts. Command and Control decisions
will be made, finalised marketing methods prepared, and a wide
range of issues such as Health and Safety addressed. A choice of
venue will be made, manufacture of a number of boats undertaken,
and numerous training sessions held to ensure that all personnel
are fully prepared for any eventuality."
"Stage Four ('Capability Demonstration') will take place no
earlier than 2021. This is the acid test, where the boat will be
formally attempting to set a water speed record under the
scrutiny of an independent official body and the representatives
of the Guinness Book of Records. The intention is to make two
runs in opposite directions, through a marked course of one
kilometre or one mile, within a limited time. These are the same
criteria used for manned record attempts."
"Our initial work has suggested that the most likely
configuration for the boat will be as a 'reverse three point
hydroplane' and that it will require both interactive
aerodynamic devices and movable hydrodynamic devices to maintain
stability at high speed. The propulsion system is being
developed as a multi-stage Solid Rocket Booster arrangement,
using the same propellant as the SRBs which lifted the Space
Shuttle to a height of 30 miles and a speed of 3,000 mph. The
most complex part of the whole project is likely to be the
software, which will have to be 'trained' to respond more
quickly, delicately and intelligently that a human ever could."
"We are looking at a number of locations which may provide
suitable water surfaces. The craft is anticipated to need an
Acceleration Zone of six miles, followed by a one mile Timing
Zone, and then a six mile Deceleration Zone, for a total of
thirteen miles. Since our team members are based in
Cambridgeshire, London and Northamptonshire, the focus is on
finding a test location in England. A UK venue is also preferred
from a marketing point of view."
"Monthly progress reports will be issued beginning in summer
2017. In the meantime, we will be publishing news updates on the
project as appropriate."
Sounds like these guys and girls have their act together! Since
I know the man in charge of it all, I'll see if I can get the
go-ahead to put the breaking news on this Forum!
#Post#: 3--------------------------------------------------
Re: Creating The Fastest Boat
By: James Date: January 26, 2017, 5:17 am
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Good job Jacqui for getting this information from the people
actually putting the project together. I know that much of what
they do has to be kept out of the public domain, but here's
hoping they will be prepared to share some of the 'hot news'
with us! I'm particularly looking forward to finding out more
about the 'hydrodynamic stability devices' which I'm guessing
are a hi-tech version of the 'Stabilisers' fitted to most large
passenger ships.
#Post#: 4--------------------------------------------------
Re: Creating The Fastest Boat
By: MintCake Date: January 26, 2017, 5:40 am
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The text from the team is impressive. I particularly appreciate
the way they've broken down the project into clear stages,and
their timescale of four years looks realistic, considering the
amount of work that has to be done. I was wondering if the
sponsorship is performance related, and if the development team
will have to meet targets at the end of each stage to continue
receiving funding? But I know that neither party to those
negotiations will want to show their hand.
#Post#: 6--------------------------------------------------
Re: Creating The Fastest Boat
By: Swordfish Date: January 26, 2017, 6:54 am
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I'm amazed how the design team have so very clearly explained
their thinking and the way they are organising the project. The
thing that most intrigues me is the idea of using solid rocket
propulsion and how they are planning to use AI to control the
dynamic behaviour of the vessel at very high speeds, where
nobody yet knows what will happen. I imagine they will fit a
'Black Box' or use real time streaming of data and imagery from
the boat so that if things go wrong on a test run they will at
least be able to learn from the event and use it to improve
their approach on future attempts. It's good that they aren't
making themselves a hostage to fortune by claiming they will
reach XXX mph, but it's clear from reading 'between the lines'
that they intend to beat the 'manned' record of 317.6 mph.
Great!
#Post#: 7--------------------------------------------------
Re: Creating The Fastest Boat
By: Jacqui Date: January 26, 2017, 8:13 am
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I'm having a meeting with two of the development team at the
weekend to see how they're doing, so if anyone on the Forum
wants me to ask them a question, please post it on the Forum by
6pm (GMT) on Friday 27th January and I'll try and find the
answer for you! BTW, I do know that they will have a 'virtual
black box' on all the test boats and in record attempts, and
this will transmit a constant stream of data from sensors on the
boat to recorders on the shore. They'll be fitting several TV
cameras on the boat as well.
#Post#: 8--------------------------------------------------
Re: Creating The Fastest Boat
By: James Date: January 26, 2017, 10:25 am
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Jacqui, would it be possible to ask what is meant by a 'reverse
three point hydroplane?' Also, I've been wondering if the recent
'Brexit' decision has made any difference to the process of
obtaining sponsorship in 2017? Thanks!
#Post#: 9--------------------------------------------------
Re: Creating The Fastest Boat
By: Airfixer Date: January 26, 2017, 2:13 pm
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Hey Jacqui! I'm interested in the criteria the team are using to
find the right stretch of water to do the tests, and how they
can predict which are more likely to have very smooth surfaces.
Also, as I'm a wildlife photographer, I've noticed that lakes
and rivers are often calmer just as dawn is breaking. Could the
fast runs be done at that time of day? I suppose it may depend
whether the navigation system on the boat uses visual waypoints
or is electronic, or radio based. Could you ask about these
points please? Cheers!
#Post#: 10--------------------------------------------------
Re: Creating The Fastest Boat
By: Swordfish Date: January 26, 2017, 2:17 pm
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The multi-stage rocket arrangement is interesting. Could we be
told a little more about how that is configured? I've seen some
video of USA amateur rocket enthusiasts in action, and their
birds really fly!
#Post#: 11--------------------------------------------------
Re: Creating The Fastest Boat
By: Wildchild Date: January 26, 2017, 2:27 pm
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Are there any thoughts yet about the size of the boat? If the
record attempt needs a six mile run-up, I'm thinking that a very
long rocket or rockets will be needed to give a long enough burn
time. And once the rockets expire, will there be devices to slow
the boat down, or will air and water friction be enough to bring
it to a standstill? Be good to know a few more tasty details,
and to see this craft set a new record!
#Post#: 12--------------------------------------------------
Re: Creating The Fastest Boat
By: Jacqui Date: January 26, 2017, 2:30 pm
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Good questions guys! Keep sending 'em in! Only another 22 hours
before my deadline!
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