Moire Patterns Guide Ships: A Hands-On Build and Critique
Guiding Ships with Moire Patterns
Inspired by Tom Scott's video, I built a moire-pattern navigation light following a 1986 patent. The device projects a narrow beam that shifts with viewing angle, offering intuitive steering cues. While it works as advertised, I argue that for harbor navigation, a simpler three-light system is safer and more practical, as it indicates actual danger rather than deviation from an ideal line. The moire system shines for marking narrow targets like submarine cables.
If I were a pilot I think I'd much prefer a system like the 3 lamp, that lets me know when I'm actually in danger, rather than a system letting me know I've deviated from a line someone drew on a map.