Well DARPA inspired robot cars to cross the desert and cityscapes but the military has nothing to do with Microtransat a competition that puts robotic boats up against each other in an attempt to move the research forward. "Ultimately, the goal is to produce oceanographic survey platforms that could operate at sea for up to six months, probably sailing themselves out to areas of interest. They would send data back using satellite communications, and return periodically for repairs if possible; but their cost would be low enough that losses wouldn't be catastrophic." says The Register article on the competition. This years race is not as ambitious as the one currently planned for late 2008, that one is the trans Atlantic crossing, on the agenda this time are two short course races of 2 and 10km in distance. I'm not that into boats, but robot boats sounds cool!
