USNS Newport (EPF 12): The subsequent ship in collection, USNS Apalachicola, has been trialing autonomous capabilities. [Image: Austal]
Even earlier than it’s formally delivered to the Navy, the longer term USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13) is performing a collection of deliberate take a look at occasions assessing autonomous capabilities built-in into the shipboard configuration, demonstrating that a big ship can change into a self-driving platform.
Shipbuilder, Austal USA was awarded a $44 million contract final June to ship autonomous capabilities to the Expeditionary Fast Transport vessel, whereas retaining functionality for manned operations.
The ship is a multi-use military platform able to quickly transporting troops and their tools, supporting humanitarian aid or operational efforts, and may function in shallow waters. The contract modification known as on Austal USA to put in a notion and autonomy management suite, in addition to a number of automation enhancements to the equipment plant, enhancing the hull, mechanical and electrical reliability whereas decreasing the quantity of personnel required for operations and upkeep at sea.
Austal USA is among the six corporations just lately awarded contract modifications for “continued studies of a large unmanned surface vessel” (LUSV).
TEST EVENTS
Known as Unmanned Logistics Prototype trials, every of a collection of take a look at occasions now being carried out by the Navy’s PEO Ships will increase the notion capabilities and complexity of behaviors demonstrated by the autonomous programs. Test evolutions to this point embrace point-to-point autonomous navigation, vessel dealing with and switch of vessel management between manned to unmanned modes.
“The autonomous capabilities being demonstrated by this prototype system represent a major technological advancement for the EPF platform, the Navy at large and our industry partners. EPF 13 will be the first fully operational U.S. naval ship to possess autonomous capability including the ability to operate autonomously in a commercial vessel traffic lane,” mentioned Tim Roberts, Strategic and Theater Sealift program supervisor, PEO Ships. “This testing is a game changer and highlights that there is potential to expand unmanned concepts into existing fleet assets.”
Collaboration for the take a look at occasions embrace staff members from PEO Ships, PEO Unmanned and Small Combatants, Naval Systems Engineering and Logistics Directorate – Surface Ship Design and System Engineering, Supervisor of Shipbuilding – Gulf Coast, Naval Surface Warfare Center assist from Carderock, Combatant Craft Division, Dahlgren and Philadelphia and the Navy’s shipbuilding and trade companions, Austal USA, L3 Harris and General Dynamics.
Future take a look at occasions will add ranges of issue and embrace night time navigation, and differing climate and sea states. These trials will set essential groundwork for autonomous vessel operations, to incorporate vessel encounter and avoidance maneuvering and compliance with International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS).
EPF 13 is scheduled to ship to the Navy later this 12 months.
