Navy: Self-guided unmanned patrol boats make debut

[unhappycamper]

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/10/05/3415838/navy-self-guided-unmanned-patrol.html?sp=/99/261/



This Tuesday Aug. 12, 2014 photo provided by the U.S. Navy shows an Four unmanned remotely operated high-speed maneuvering surface targets as they move to their blocking positions during an Office of Naval Research demonstration of autonomous swarmboat technology on the James River in Newport News, Va. During the demonstration as many as 13 Navy boats, using an ONR-sponsored system operated autonomously or by remote control during escort, intercept and engage scenarios.

Navy: Self-guided unmanned patrol boats make debut
By BROCK VERGAKIS
Associated Press
October 5, 2014 Updated 13 minutes ago

NORFOLK, Va. — Self-guided unmanned patrol boats that can leave warships they're protecting and swarm and attack potential threats on the water could join the Navy's fleet within a year, defense officials say, adding the new technology could one day help stop attacks like the deadly 2000 bombing of the USS Cole off Yemen.

The Arlington-based Office of Naval Research demonstrated the autonomous swarm boat technology over two weeks in August on the James River near Fort Eustis in Virginia — not far from one of the Navy's largest fleet concentration areas. It said the Navy simulated a transit through a strait, just like the routine passage of U.S. warships through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.

In the demonstrations, as many as 13 small unmanned patrol boats were escorting a high-value Navy ship. Then as many as eight of the self-guided vessels broke off and swarmed around a threat when a ship playing the part of an enemy vessel was detected, the office said, calling the demonstrations a success.

Robert Brizzolara, program manager at the Office of Naval Research, said that the boats can decide for themselves what movements to make once they're alerted to a threat and work together to encircle or block the path of an opposing vessel, depending on that vessel's movements and those of other nearby vessels.

[krispos42]

1. Ocean drones.

Interesting.