The Navy Goes on the Offensive with Robot Swarm Boats

The US Navy’s most advanced ships are nearly peerless when out in open waters. However, when anchored, leaving port or approaching coastlines the Navy’s vessels are vulnerable to marauding flotillas of small, fast moving boats. In an effort to counter that asymmetrical strategy the Navy is eyeing its own swarm of quick and maneuverable craft.

On October 12, 2000 the US Navy was surprised by one of the most devastating attacks it’s faced in decades. While anchored in Aden, Yemen the USS Cole destroyer was crippled by an inflatable skiff filled with explosives. As a result of the explosion 17 sailors were killed, another 39 were wounded and the Cole was left with a 12 x 18 meter (40 x 60 foot) gash along its port side.

Not letting that lesson go unlearned the US Navy has been developing a universal platform that can transform nearly any vessel into an autonomous, unmanned surface vehicle (USV). While the Navy hasn’t been specific about the Control Architecture for Robotic Agent Command and Sensing (CARACaS) technology that pilots its USVs, it has made a point to emphasize the new crafts’ ability to provide an early warning system and an effective countermeasure to smaller, more maneuverable craft. According to the Office of Naval Research, within an instant sensors mounted on a fleet of USVs can be commanded by a virtual commodore to swarm an enemy vessel and fire upon it with several high powered machine guns. Given the USVs’ relatively inexpensive price tag, sending these vessels out on their own suicide mission is a strong alternative to severely damaging or losing a multi-million dollar ship.

“While the attack on Cole was not the only motivation for developing autonomous swarm capability, it certainly is front and center in our minds, and hearts,” said Rear Adm. Matthew Klunder. “If Cole had been supported by autonomous USVs, they could have stopped that attack long before it got close to our brave men and women on board.”

Though the Navy’s swarming USVs haven’t made it to troubled seas yet, they were floated into a field test earlier this summer on Virginia’s James River. During the test 13 USVs equipped with CARACaS technology successfully escorted a large Navy vessel, moving with exact synchronicity and performing at least one deadly swarming attack.

Though any new technology, tactic or technique is sure to meet with countermeasures, it appears as though the US Navy’s USV strategy should provide sound protection for its fleet for the foreseeable future.

Images Courtesy of ONR