Giant kites may soon be used to pull cargo ships across the ocean -.

Soon we could see giant kites being used to pull cargo ships across their routes in an effort to reduce the carbon emissions from these huge ships.

While this may sound like a grand return to the era of huge ships pulled by nothing more than the wind in their giant white sails, the French company Airseas has created a kite fit for the 21st century.

It is launched via a folding mast, which can retrieve the kite when it is not needed. It is also controlled by an autopilot software, meaning it catches the best winds to pull the ship forward.

Airseas CEO Vincent Bernatets told CNN that “what sets it apart from other wind solutions is that the wing is not just pulled by the wind and countered by the ship.” Instead, it flies in loops that multiply the pulling effect.

What do you think? Should we re-equip our boats with wind sails?