China builds world’s fastest unmanned boat

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China has made the world's fastest unmanned boat, as shown Thursday at the China Marine Economy Exposition (CMEE) 2017 in Zhanjiang City, south China’s Guangdong Province.

Dubbed Tianxing-1, the unmanned boat is a product jointly developed by Harbin Engineering University and Shenzhen Hi-speed Boats Technology Company. It is a gas-electric hybrid boat with an overall length of 12.2 meters. It can navigate at a maximum speed of over 50 knots (92.6 kilometers per hour) with a full load displacement of 7.5 tons.

Tianxing-1 is a gas-electric hybrid boat with an overall length of 12.2 meters. /Photo via hisibi.com.cn

The speed of a manned speedboat can reach as fast as 70 knots (about 130 kilometers per hour), while high speed requires rich experiences of the driver. Heavy sea and obstacles could be the tough challenges that the unmanned boat will face, said the company.

Tianxing-1 is the fastest among the models which have been developed by the university and the company. Ten boats of the same kind have been manufactured, said a staff member of the company, adding that the unmanned boat can also be used in the maritime law enforcement and navy, or under dangerous circumstances.