An unmanned , solar - powered trimaran will cross the Atlantic to mark the 400th anniversary of the pilgrims ' journey to the New World on the Mayflower in 1620 . The $ 15 m ##w Autoship is being developed by a group including the University of Plymouth , and will serve as a research vessel during the week - long crossing , before she is selected for " world - wide ocean research " . ed Kevin Jones , executive dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Plymouth ##mouth , believes the trimaran would " be a test ##bed for new navigation software and alternative forms of navigation " .
An unmanned, solar-powered trimaran will cross the Atlantic to mark the 400th anniversary of the pilgrims' journey to the New World on the Mayflower in 1620. The $15m Mayflower Autoship is being developed by a group including the University of Plymouth, and will serve as a research vessel during the week-long crossing, before she is used for "world-wide ocean research". Professor Kevin Jones, executive dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Plymouth University, said the trimaran would "be a test bed for new navigation software and alternative forms of power".