Page 42: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2016)

Unmanned Surface Vessels From Concept to Service

BY JOHN HAYNES ver the next decade the mari- to shape technology developments from will be wider acceptance from the public the importance of other elements beyond time sector is likely to see legislative and end-user standpoints. when they are adopted. an aircraft itself including ground con- one of the largest changes As the maritime sector is often the last The military has already learned a lot trol stations, data links and other support

Osince sail gave way to steam. to adopt new technology it is important about Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) equipment.

Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) are to identify genuine innovations from and the systems required to operate The maritime sector has the opportuni- now being considered for various marine other transport sectors. The driverless them. During the war in Afghanistan the ty to gain extensive knowledge from nu- roles and the drivers for rapid develop- car is being pioneered by some of the US went from a UAV inventory of 100 merous civil aviation uses including aer- ment are signi? cant. largest companies in the world including to 10,000 over a ten year period. There ial surveying of land and crops, search

Unmanned or autonomous vessels Google, and small unmanned aircraft are are several terms in use for unmanned and rescue operations, inspecting power have passed through the trial and evalua- being considered as a delivery method aerial vehicles, including Unmanned lines and pipelines, monitoring wildlife tion stage and are now being adopted for for global retailers including Amazon. Aircraft System (UAS) which has gener- and delivering medical supplies to re- civilian and military applications. The As these innovations pass through rigor- ally been adopted by defence and civil mote or otherwise inaccessible regions. maritime sector now has the opportunity ous regulatory approval processes there aviation authorities. UAS emphasizes Utilising ? xed wing or rotor aircraft,

BAE Systems Unmanned RHIB with ASV Technology. (Credit: BAE Systems) 42 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • FEBRUARY 2016

MR #2 (42-49).indd 42 2/3/2016 11:15:32 AM