We are planning a tournament called E/SASV Games: an unprecedented form of competition where we attempt to integrate both the real world (Lake Biwa) and the virtual space. This concept and efforts to combine virtual and real space can also be applied to deep-sea exploration and space exploration in the future. Building this virtual space requires complex software and hardware developments that will cost about 10 million Japanese yen. In this occasion we decided to raise part of the expenses through crowdfunding. Thank you for your consideration and support.
・The game will start from a random point on the virtual map, and participants are required to pass all the designated points.
・Winners will be decided based on how fast you can reach the goal.
・You can either design your own ship or use a model prepared by us.
・The speed, turning performance, and durability differ depending on the ships.
・There are many useful items throughout the map. Make good use of them!
The ships are powered solely by sunlight. Using solar panels, it runs by spinning a screw with the generated electricity. This solar-powered vessel, called an autonomous watercraft (SASV), will navigate unmanned to its destination. Autonomous vessels equipped with an automated steering system using GPS will compete over a distance of approximately 20km on Lake Biwa.
The predecessor of this newly developed competition, the Lake Biwa Crew-less Solar Boat Tournament, started in 1997 and has since then been held 26 times until August 2022.
The event got discontinued after 26 years of history due to the aging of the organization body, a bland repetition of competition style, and the stagnation of technical advances. On the other hand, many primary and secondary school students also participated in this competition, making it a valuable opportunity to experience nature that are being lost in recent years. Among those who participated in the past, one student later won the "Japan Water Award Future Pioneering Award" for a large-scale ecological survey related to Bdellocephala annandalei. Through this interaction with children, we feel that it is most important to pass on our activities and experiences to the next generation.
Our larger vision is to pass on our wisdom between generations to realize our dreams and connect them to the future.
We also want to do what we can now to protect the environment of Lake Biwa, which is rapidly deteriorating, and above all, pass it on to the next generation. In order to make this initiative permanent, we aim to carry out this project with children who will be responsible for the future, and to get them interested in environmental problems and the wonders of life.
This activity is part of an activity of Biwako Trust NPO organization with the cooperation of Ritsumeikan University and other university students, and the Lake Biwa Crew-less Solar Boat Association. We are also working alongside with alumni and current students of the Biwako Trust Junior Doctor Training School. University students who were involved in the 2022 Crew-less Solar Boat Tournament will play a central role in planning and running the event so that it can be passed on to the next generation. We are looking forward to making this project a reality and meeting all of you at the tournament.
In 1997, we started the crew-less solar powered boat race at Lake Biwa. This was an ambitious project where we had solar powered boats relying solely on GPS and compass data compete with each other. Now twenty-six years from then, we are trying to take a new step forward.
That is the E/SASV games where contestants from around the world challenge each other in both the virtual and real worlds. Realizing this project will require a lot of help. Some of the major challenges include development of complicating software/hardware and funds to support our work.
The insights we will gain from the competition of autonomous vessels will greatly advance technologies in deep sea research and space exploration. The outcome attempts to reduce the boundaries between the virtual world and the real world, and will also be our gift to the next generation.
Now, let us set sail onto the virtual lake.
Let us compete on beautiful Lake Biwa.
Michio Kumagai
Founder of E/SASV
(Biwako Trust/ Ritsumeikan University)
● Necessary expenses (10,000,000 yen in total)
・Labor costs (gratuity) 100,000 yen
・Transportation expenses: 200,000 yen
・Printing cost: 500,000 yen
・Communication and shipping cost: 300,000 yen
・Venue fee: 3,500,000 yen
・Equipment cost: 100,000 yen
· Publicity expenses: 50,000 yen
・Server purchase cost: 3,000,000 yen
・Ship production cost: 2,250,000 million yen
● Income (10 million yen in total)
· Tournament participation fee: 5,000,000 yen
・University subsidy: 650,000 yen
・ Crowd funding 1,000,000 yen
· Foundation grant: 2,000,000 yen
・Corporate sponsorship/donation: 1,350,000 yen
We will carefully use the funds provided to us in the above expenses. The necessary cost of 10 million yen is the minimum cost to hold the tournament, and it is not sufficient enough to organize the scale originally planned (which requires 25 million yen). First things first, I would like to ask for your support of 1 million yen so that the tournament can be held. Thank you.
This project will be implemented using an all-in method.
Even if the target amount is not reached, we will execute the plan and deliver the return.