TensorFlow, AI, Autopilot, VendeeGlobe

[seandepagnier]

With your line of thought (where it mainly learns the dynamics of the boat based on your PyPilot controlling it) it will only learn to mimic that of PyPilot.  IOW, never surpassing it.  With the added risk of other boats influences in the Neural Network might cause a contrasting and harmful edge cases.

The issue with harmful edge cases is real, but it would not mimic the current PID algorithm, that would be almost pointless. I think you are missing what I am trying to explain. It would learn the dynamics of the boat and be able to predict boat motion and therefore determine the best way to get optimal steering, and in this way exceed the performance of any human (in theory) and automatically give the best result within the search space.

For example, it would consider what would happen if it steers a little to port, vs starboard vs no input at all, but also considering that it might know in advance it will steer hard to port in a few seconds and do nothing in the moment and so forth. It would not just run the network one time to predict the movement but run it dozens or hundreds of times per frame considering all possible movements and predict the outcome for each of them and find the best one that way.

IMO.  The only case where the potential advantages outweighs the unknown (and hidden numerical) risks is where it ONLY learns from a professional racer and only on their one boat and only used for racing conditions.  And only in that deep-pocket, cutting-edge

It would exceed the performance of any racer assuming the network fully understands the dynamics. The issue is things like rogue waves and so forth conditions that are rare and have not been fully trained and for this even lots of humans would make mistakes.

case where the boat can be instrumented with rudder position and all sail position settings (the other choices the pro racer has control over).  Only then to be used to relieve the racer when the second-string (or no) human helmsmen are available.
controlling electric:

• furling headsails
  
• in-mast furled mains
  
• sheeting lines
  
• boom vangs
  

I am working on multiple motor control right now. The additional motors could be used for such things as well as others.

Depending on your bent, you could continue to Open Source and continue earning the love and admiration of the world... or monetizing a product and live comfortably (actually extravagantly).  Empowering the Boomers age group (and future generations) to continue sailing into their 70's, 80's and 90's will open many well-healed purses!  Then again... with Google and others paying high 6 (near 7) figure salaries for AI experience, you may be able to leverage that for your own personal gain.   

I dont know if you are delusional or I am. What I can tell you is I have exactly $2 in my paypal account and less than $2 in cash (a few quarters and dimes). I am perpetually without money foraging for oysters and eating food my friend gave me off his boat when he left it for the winter.

Either way - I look forward to see what you come up with.  You are the expert.  It is your program, so you can do with it as you wish.  What do I know... I don't have a crystal ball.  I only have 40 years as a C++ developer and aerospace engineer specializing in finite-element analysis, dynamic systems, and frequency response - aka... the Competent Engineer.

Well by all means find issues with pypilot and let me know how to improve it!