What caused the crashes during the U.S. Navy's autonomous drone boat tests?

Software glitches and human errors led to two incidents, including a collision between two drone boats and a support boat capsizing after an autonomous vessel suddenly accelerated.

How has the Navy's autonomous maritime drone program been impacted?

The Navy's autonomous drone acquisition unit has faced leadership changes, with the firing of its top admiral, and scrutiny from Pentagon officials who questioned the cost-effectiveness of some of the capabilities being acquired.

What is the Pentagon's plan for expanding autonomous maritime systems?

The U.S. military has launched a $1 billion program to acquire thousands of aerial and maritime drones, with the first systems expected to be announced this month. However, the recent incidents have highlighted the challenges in deploying these nascent technologies.

Home / War and Conflict / Autonomous Drone Boat Crashes Disrupt U.S. Navy Tests

Autonomous Drone Boat Crashes Disrupt U.S. Navy Tests

20 Aug

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Summary

Software glitches caused two autonomous drone boats to collide during a U.S. naval test
A separate incident saw a support boat capsize after an autonomous vessel suddenly accelerated
The Navy's autonomous maritime drone acquisition unit has faced leadership changes and Pentagon scrutiny

In a series of recent setbacks for the U.S. military's push to develop autonomous maritime drones, software glitches and human errors have led to a number of incidents during naval tests off the California coast.

Last month, during a test designed to showcase the Pentagon's top autonomous drone boats, one vessel stalled unexpectedly due to a software issue. As officials scrambled to fix the problem, another drone boat smashed into the idling vessel, vaulting over the deck and crashing back into the water. Weeks earlier, the captain of a support boat was thrown into the water after another autonomous drone it was towing suddenly accelerated, capsizing the support boat.

These incidents have highlighted the challenges facing the Navy's effort to deploy these nascent technologies. The Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit has now indefinitely paused a contract with one of the companies providing autonomous software for the tests.

The Navy's autonomous maritime drone acquisition unit has also faced turmoil, with the firing of its top admiral and scrutiny from a top Pentagon official who questioned the cost-effectiveness of some of the capabilities being acquired. As the Navy tries to overhaul its approach to building a fleet of self-driving vessels, shipbuilders and software providers are angling for even larger autonomous maritime projects, such as unmanned submarines and cargo ships.

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