While both Nielsen-Kellerman and in2rowing now offering high-tech GPS and telemetry units to gauge crew speed, researchers at MIT are working on the finishing touches for the first robot coxswain, rumored to be available for sale as early as 2009.
"Doing the programming for steering and pointing was relatively easy," said lead programmer Oliver Smoot (himself a former coxswain). "We were able to use lots of commercially available maps and satellite data for that." More difficult was programming the RoboCox to perform the motivational tactics adequately. "The RoboCox did stuff like pick up on blades dragging or timing issues well enough," said Smoot, "but we're still working on the functionality to allow the RoboCox to be able to motivate a crew at a high level." Rumors swirling around the RoboCox labs had an early version of the motivation and racing software, nicknamed the Whipple Algorithm, working extremely effectively, but was then ultimately junked due to excessive profanity and language deemed incompatible with FISA rules.
MIT has petitioned to be allowed to use the RoboCox in racing this spring, up to and including the Eastern Sprints, but that request is still in limbo as phonecalls and emails made to ECAC headquarters in early January have yet to be returned.
In related news, FISA has said that it has no plans to allow use of the RoboCox in international events. "We're pretty sure the East Germans already tried that in the 70s," said Matt Smith, Executive Director of FISA.