Wind, current, waves, prop efficiency, slack in the lines of the boats
docked in front/behind or along side of..........yaddayaddayadda.......

Interesting thought Chuck but as you know it will never happen.

"never"??


"Chuck Gould" wrote
If the sensors could keep track of the docking vessel's exact position
relative to other boats and the open space at the dock, and if there is
effectively 360 degree variable propulsion available (coming close with
the Volvo IPS system, for example) moderate wind or current
wouldn't be insurmountable in the equation.

Sure. Both such systems already exist and are in regular use
by harbor pilots & tugs.

Ever heard of a Z-drive, Cort nozzle, or steerable drive?
Ever heard of position-sensing sonar?

.... The system would need to
compensate, instantly, as variables changed.

Why "instantly"? I think a delay of a few hundredths of a
second... or even two seconds... is that big a problem.


... I don't think it's
something we will see soon- but something we could easily see
eventually.


Yep


JimH wrote:
I guess it is all a matter of time.......can your fantasy system update
position of the pilot boat and surrounding obstructions in a millisecond
time frame and have propulsion systems react within the same milliseconds?


Can your eye, brain, and hand do it perfectly in
milliseconds? Certainly the boat positioning system in use
now (cable throttle linkage & steering) are not
super-hyper-ultra fast in response time.


If it were possible the entire package (propulsion systems, other hardware,
software, tracking system) would be cost prohibitive.

Bottom line........Star Trek 2025.


Bottom line... similar systems are in use now.

DSK