Navy researchers have achieved a breakthrough in autonomous technology, developing a “swarming” system that employs multiple unmanned boats working together to escort ships, patrol harbors or confront adversaries.
The Navy sees a lot of advantages in having “swarmboats.”
Developed by the Office of Naval Research, the Control Architecture for Robotic Agent Command and Sensing, or CARACaS, system can, for the cost of several thousand dollars, turn just about any boat into an unmanned vessel, according to Rear Adm. Matthew L. Klunder, chief of Naval Research.
During a two-week demonstration in August, as many as 13 patrol boats and other vehicles outfitted with the CARACaS sensor and software kit worked in concert—either autonomously or by remote—on the James River in Virginia, escorting a high-value vessel (in this case, the researchers’ ship, the Relentless), which is and then surrounding a mock enemy ship when it appeared. Although the purpose was to demonstrate the boats’ ability to swarm, boats operated by remote could have fired on the intruding ship as well, Klunder said during a recent conference call with reporters.
The Navy sees a lot of advantages in having “swarmboats.” They’re cheaper than manned boats, and in addition to keeping sailors out of harm’s way, they keep sailors who otherwise would be sent out on patrol from being pulled away from their assigned jobs aboard ship. And the kits can take advantage of smaller boats already aboard cruisers, destroyer and carriers, without the need to buy new vessels.
The Latest on: Swarmboats
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The Latest on: Swarmboats
- ONR completes demonstration with swarm of autonomous unmanned boatson January 28, 2020 at 4:00 pm
During the exercise, unmanned boats were given a large area of open water to patrol. As an unknown vessel entered the area, the group of swarmboats collaboratively determined which patrol boat would ...
- U.S. Navy tests autonomous patrol vesselson January 5, 2019 at 8:21 am
The Office of Naval Research released details of the August test of autonomous "swarmboats” patrol vessels. These are unmanned boats designed to better automate ship defense.
- Watch the US Navy's biggest helicopter refuel from a plane while carrying a Humvee over the oceanon February 27, 2017 at 4:00 pm
with a huger helicopter, across a huge expanse of sea with the help of a KC-130J refueling plane, which is huge in its own right. NOW WATCH: Meet the Navy's autonomous 'swarmboats' that overwhelm and ...
- The Navy is building fleets of unmanned 'swarmboats' that can overwhelm and confuse enemieson December 15, 2016 at 6:03 am
The Navy’s new “swarmboats” aren’t being developed to replace its sailors and marines, however. Instead, they’re intended to assist in duties that might be too dull or too dangerous. The ONR’s most ...
- Autonomous Swarmboats: New Missions, Safe Harborson December 14, 2016 at 12:36 am
As an unknown vessel entered the area, the group of swarmboats collaboratively determined which patrol boat would quickly approach the unknown vessel, classify it as harmless or suspicious ...
- Awesome Autonomy: The Future Force, RoboBoatson July 14, 2016 at 8:18 pm
Recent naval-sponsored programs -- including Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard (EMILY), Sea Hunter, Autonomous Swarmboats and Low-Cost Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Swarming Technology (LOCUST ...
- Navy’s Boat Drones Pack Hunt Like Wolves on Wateron October 9, 2014 at 8:23 am
The Navy’s swarmboats run smart software called Control Architecture for Robotic Agent Command and Sensing (CARACaS). The system handles individual vessels and coordinates the larger group. The boats ...
- The future is now: Navy's autonomous swarmboats can overwhelm adversarieson October 5, 2014 at 5:00 pm
As autonomy and unmanned systems grow in importance for naval operations, officials at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) announced today a technological breakthrough that will allow any unmanned ...
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