Is The UK Developing Sea-Drones To Protect Wind Farms?
I asked Google AI the question in the title of this post and received this answer.
Yes, the UK is actively developing and utilizing sea-drones (and autonomous boats) for its offshore wind farms. This technology is being used to protect the farms by patrolling subsea infrastructure, inspecting underwater turbine foundations, and delivering heavy equipment to mitigate human risk.
Here is a look at how sea drones and autonomous systems are being developed and used for the UK’s offshore energy sector:
Subsea Security and Patrolling: The UK and NATO are highly focused on protecting critical subsea cables and wind networks from adversarial interference. Firms like Aberdeen-based Honuworx have been contracted to develop autonomous underwater vehicles capable of prolonged remote operation for defense and infrastructure surveillance.
Underwater Structure Inspection: Projects like the UNITE program (led by Heriot-Watt University and supported by the National Robotarium) are testing AI-controlled underwater robots to operate in turbulent seas and maintain offshore wind infrastructure. Meanwhile, Beam (an offshore wind services company) successfully deployed the world’s first AI-driven autonomous underwater drone at Scotland’s Seagreen wind farm, cutting inspection times in half.
Sailing Drones & Remote Operations: Energy companies like Vattenfall are controlling uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and sailing drones from remote operation centers in Aberdeen to patrol and keep North Sea wind farms safe and efficient.
Heavy-Lift Cargo Drones: Beyond sea drones, energy giant Ørsted has utilized giant autonomous drones to deliver heavy equipment—like 70kg boxes of safety gear—directly to the tops of offshore wind turbines in the UK, removing the need for ships and cranes in rough seas
We should fight fire with innovation.
The Undersea Tunnel Network That Could Transform Shetland’s Fortunes
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
Shetland wants to ditch ageing ferries and replace them with undersea tunnels connecting five islands including Unst, the most northerly of the British Isles.
These three paragraphs add some more detail.
The plans sound grand but they have also been greeted with some scepticism.
Can the Shetland Isles really pull off such an ambitious plan, given the UK’s struggles to deliver big projects such as high speed rail?
Yes, says the prime minister of the tiny Faroe Islands, which are 200 miles further out into the Atlantic.
The Faroe Islands Tunnel Network
I asked Google AI to describe the Faroe Island tunnel network and received this answer.
The Faroe Islands tunnel network is a massive feat of engineering connecting the 18-island archipelago.
It features over twenty land tunnels and four ultramodern subsea tunnels.
The system replaces unpredictable ferries, drastically reduces travel times, and even features the world’s first subsea roundabout.
The subsea tunnel network links major islands and regions:
Eysturoyartunnilin (Eysturoy Tunnel): A major project stretching over 11 km that connects the capital, Tórshavn, to the towns of Runavík and Strendur.
It is famous for the world’s first underwater roundabout—dubbed the “jellyfish”—which sits 72 meters below the seabed and is illuminated by stunning blue light effects and sculptures by local artist Tróndur Patursson. Travel times between Tórshavn and Runavík plummeted from over an hour to just 16 minutes.
Sandoyartunnilin (Sandoy Tunnel): Spanning roughly 11 km, this subsea tunnel connects the island of Sandoy to Streymoy.
It reaches depths up to 150 meters below sea level and integrates a relatively isolated community into the mainland, turning an hours-long ferry journey into a brief 30-minute commute.
Norðoyatunnilin (Northern Islands Tunnel): A 6.3 km subsea connection linking the island of Eysturoy with Borðoy (home to Klaksvík, the second-largest city in the Faroes).
Vágatunnilin (Vágar Tunnel): The first subsea tunnel constructed (opening in 2002), spanning 4.9 km and connecting the main island of Streymoy to Vágar, where the Faroe Islands’ international airport is located.
How the Network Works
Design & Specs: All four subsea tunnels are spacious, two-laned, single-tube designs.
The speed limit throughout the tunnels is fixed at 80 km/h.
Safety & Depth: The tunnels can reach depths of up to 187 meters below the Atlantic Ocean. Despite this, the maximum road gradient never exceeds 5%, ensuring safety for all vehicles.
Toll System: All subsea tunnels require a toll fee. Drivers can either pay per single trip or purchase a Tunnel Pass that covers driving through any subsea connection over a specific timeframe.
How Were The Faroe Tunnels Funded?
I asked Google AI to say how the Faroe Tunnels were funded and received this answer.
The Faroe Islands’ extensive subsea tunnel network is primarily funded through public-private financial partnerships utilizing international bank loans, pension fund investments, and government guarantees.
These multi-million-pound infrastructure projects pay for themselves entirely over time through user tolls.
The mechanics of this self-financing model operate as follows:
Public Companies & Bonds: The government establishes dedicated, publicly-owned companies (such as P/F Eystur- og Sandoyartunlar) that build, own, and manage the infrastructure. These companies take out large loans from international financial institutions—including UK and US pension funds—and issue bonds to private investors.
Toll Revenue Repayment: The loans and bonds are secured against future toll revenues, which are collected from motorists using the tunnels.
Government Guarantees: The Faroese government provides financial backing, essentially guaranteeing minimum traffic usage to reassure institutional investors.
Cross-Subsidization: To ensure all islands benefit, highly-trafficked tunnels (like the Eysturoy tunnel) subsidize the costs of less-trafficked tunnels (like the Sandoy tunnel).
Inside The Faroe Tunnels
This article on the BBC is entitled Faroe Islands: Inside The Undersea Tunnel Network.
It is worth a look.
LEON Are In World Cup Mood
I took these pictures in LEON on Moorgate, this morning.
I won’t be eating one as it contains coconut, which is something, that I don’t like.
Ukraine Is Turning The Tide Against Putin. What Happens Next Should Terrify Europe
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Telegraph.
This is the sub-heading.
A ceasefire in Ukraine would not demobilise the Russian army… It would release ex-convicts.
This is the first paragraph.
Whisper it quietly, but the tide may be turning in the war in Ukraine. Yet what comes next should worry us all.
The article is by a Lib-Dem MP; Mike Martin and it paints a frightening picture of the future.
They’re Only A Five-Pack Of Mens’sTrunks
With all this hot weather, I needed some more Marks and Spencer’s trunks to keep myself comfortable and cool.
I liked the overall packaging, so I took these pictures.
Note.
- Most of the packaging is a piece of carefully cut and folded cardboard.
- It was probably done with love by a robot.
- It’s almost folded into a pair of crocodile’s jaws, so the product is held safely.
- All five pairs were still in the packaging, when I brought them home.
But then as the product was made in Bangladesh, where crocodiles are native, I would expect them to get this type of packaging right.
In some ways the hook, is the most interesting part of the packaging, as it appears to have been stamped out of a sheet of quality laminated cardboard.
My father was a letterpress printer in the 1950s and one of the specialties of his business was stamping out components like these on one of his two Original Heidelberg printing machines.
Around the turn of the last century, I had a friend, who could design origami packaging like this. Quality and sustainable ideas like these will keep going around and around.
An AI-Based Bit Of Fun For The Bank Holiday
Most of us know the old Monty Python joke about X is not a messiah, he’s a very naughty boy.
So what do you get if you put in some real or imaginary people into Google?
Robert Maxwell
I used the past tense.
Robert Maxwell wasn’t the messiah, he was a very naughty boy.
This is the AI Overview, that I received from Google AI.
He wasn’t the messiah, but “Captain Bob” was certainly a very naughty boy.
The British media tycoon looted hundreds of millions from his own employees’ pension funds to prop up a multi-billion-pound debt mountain.
His empire spectacularly collapsed when he mysteriously fell from his yacht in 1991.
Ghislaine Maxwell
What do you get from his evil daughter.
Ghislaine Maxwell wasn’t the messiah, she is a very naughty girl.
This is the AI Overview, that I received from Google AI.
It is a brilliant Monty Python reference, but legally speaking, she was convicted of child sex trafficking.
Currently serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison, her projected release date is July 17, 2037.
She recently appeared before the House Oversight Committee where she invoked her Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has officially stated he will not recommend a presidential pardon for her.
How To Play The Game
Split everybody into two groups, who each choose a subject for Google AI to analyse.
The funniest analysis wins.
Digger Engines Drive JCB’s Attempt On Hydrogen-Powered Land Speed Record
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.
This is the sub-heading.
The Hydromax is expected to exceed 350mph on Bonneville Salt Flats in August in a vehicle driven by the fastest man on earth — Wing Commander Andy Green
These three paragraphs introduce the story.
The British construction firm JCB will attempt to break the world hydrogen-powered land speed record this summer, using engines from the company’s latest diggers.
The record attempt will take place at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, where Sir Malcolm Campbell broke the 300mph barrier in 1935 with Blue Bird.
The vehicle, driven by the fastest man on earth — Wing Commander Andy Green OBE — is a bespoke streamliner dubbed the JCB Hydromax.
My first job on leaving Liverpool University with a degree in Control Engineering, was in ICI’s hydrogen plant at Runcorn.
In those days, ICI had little use for the gas and except for use as a feedstock for some niche and unusual products, and research all over the country, most of the gas produced was mixed with coal gas and sent down the power station to raise steam.
But talk around the Research Department on Runcorn Heath and some older employees had memories from World War II of hydrogen being used in transport experiments.
I asked Google AI,”Was Research In World War II In The UK Done Into Hydrogen Powered Vehicles?” and received this answer.
Yes, research and development into hydrogen-powered systems were conducted in the UK during World War II, primarily focused on fuel cells for submarines rather than hydrogen-powered road vehicles, which were more commonly powered by “coal gas” or “producer gas”.
So I suspect Runcorn provided the hydrogen for the research.
In Sutton Station To Gatwick Airport By Hydrogen-Powered Bus, I describe how I made the trip to the airport in a hydrogen-powered bus. And all for free because I have a Freedom Pass and in a mouse-quiet vehicle!
These buses from Wrightbus in Northern Ireland are superb influences for the use of hydrogen as a zero-carbon fuel.
Hopefully, the JCB Hydromax will persuade more people to think positively of hydrogen.
I wish Lord Bamford and his team, the best of luck.
Will The Green Mayor In Hackney Affect The Value Of My House?
I asked Google AI the question in the title of this post and received this reply.
Based on the 2026 Hackney Green Party manifesto and local policy updates, a Green-led council in Hackney is likely to implement policies aimed at environmental sustainability, improved social housing, and stricter regulation of private property, which could have mixed effects on property values.
Here is how the Green Party’s approach in Hackney might impact your home value:
Potential Upward Pressures on Property ValueGreen Infrastructure Improvements:
The council is prioritizing increased green canopy cover (target of 30%) and the installation of electric vehicle charging points.
Increased green space and improved environmental quality can enhance the desirability of residential areas, often positively impacting house prices.
Energy Efficiency Upgrades: Continued investments in insulating homes and supporting heat pump installations could make older properties more attractive to buyers concerned about energy efficiency and lower utility bills.
“Alive and Flourishing” Strategy: Efforts to reactivate underused spaces could improve local amenities, making neighbourhoods more vibrant and potentially increasing demand.
Potential Downward or Stabilizing Pressures on ValueFocus on Social and Affordable Housing: A core priority is building 1,000 new council homes for social rent, along with a focus on “genuinely affordable” housing.
A shift away from high-end private luxury development towards affordable housing can reduce the rate of capital growth in the private market.
Rent Controls and Regulation: Green Party policy includes lobbying for local rent controls.
While this directly impacts buy-to-let investors, it can change the investment landscape and overall demand for investment properties in the borough.
Regulation of Empty Homes: The council plans to double Council Tax for properties left vacant for 12 months or more, and may use Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) for long-term empty buildings.
Expansion of Selective Licensing: Proposals to expand landlord licensing schemes to cover more of the borough could increase costs for landlords, potentially causing some to exit the market.
Potential Tax and Regulatory Factors
Council Tax Increases: The budget for 2026/27 includes a standard 4.99% council tax increase.
Stricter Developer Obligations: Increased requirements for developers to contribute to community infrastructure could increase development costs, although the focus is often on increasing social value rather than solely high-end investment.
Conclusion
Hopefully Nothing Too Bad! But who knows?
Is The 141 The Worst Bus Route In London?
Judging by the constant conversation on the 141 bus, that I take regularly, I thought with local elections coming up this week, this was a very timely question to ask Google AI.
Google AI gave me this answer.
The 141 bus route is often considered poor by passengers, though it is not officially ranked as London’s worst.
Criticisms center on overcrowding, issues with BYD electric buses, and reliability issues while traveling between Palmers Green and London Bridge.
Why the 141 Route is Criticized:
Overcrowding: The route is heavily used to connect outer areas like Turnpike Lane to Bank and Moorgate, leading to high passenger volume.
Vehicle Issues: Complaints have been made regarding the BYD double-deck buses used on this route, which have been described as having narrow seats, high steps, and poor handling of cold weather.
Reliability: The route has been affected by roadworks, such as on the North Circular.
Comfort: The back of the bus downstairs has been described as “pokey”.
While the 141 has negative feedback, other routes have officially received more complaints or had lower average speeds (e.g., the 14 bus).
According to, the 141 is popular for the Hopper Fare, but the issues with the buses make it a less-than-ideal journey.
I wonder who’s standing for election on a ticket, that includes improving the buses.
Google AI wasn’t any help.
Across London At The Back Of A 38 Bus
To get to see Banksy’s new statue, that I wrote about in Banksy’s New Statue In Waterloo Place, I took to 38 bus from behind my house to Piccadilly Circus.
I sat in the two seats at the back of the bus and took these pictures on the route.
Note.
- The fourth picture shows the statue of Hugh Myddleton at Islington Green.
- Pictures 41-45 show the distinctive Centre Point and the major interchange of Tottenham Court Road station.
- Foyles is in Picture 50.
- A zedwell capsule hotel in the Picture 58. It has over a 1,000 capsules.
- The last two pictures show Piccadilly Circus with Eros.
From Piccadilly Circus, I just walked down Regent Street to Waterloo Place.
The Anonymous Widower 