Posted on Oct 6, 2014
What do you think about unmanned attack boats joining Navy’s fleet?
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Within a year, self-guided unmanned patrol boats that can attack potential threats on the water could join the Navy’s fleet. Defense officials say the autonomous swarm-boat technology could help stop attacks like the deadly bombing of the USS Cole off Yemen in 2000.
The attack boats can direct themselves once they are alerted to a threat and work together to surround or block an enemy’s vessel. The boats can also fire .50-caliber machine guns, but only if a human decides lethal force is necessary. A sailor on a command ship would be in charge of each of the boats and could take control over any of the boats at any time. Also, if communication between the unmanned boats and the sailor overseeing them got disconnected, the boat would automatically shut down.
What’s particularly great about the new technology is it will free up sailors to stay aboard the ship who would normally be manning such boats. The sailors would be safer and can focus on other duties instead, like manning weapons systems.
Money won’t be an issue with the technology. The Navy doesn’t even have to purchase new ships. The small, transportable kit can be applied to existing patrol boats and aboard many large warships. Plus, the kits only cost about $2,000 each.
With the unmanned patrol boats, larger ships can be escorted with more protection. Fighting potential enemies will also be easier and fewer lives will be put directly in harm’s way.
What do you think about the technology being rolled out to fleet commanders within a year? In what situations should the unmanned boats be used for?
The attack boats can direct themselves once they are alerted to a threat and work together to surround or block an enemy’s vessel. The boats can also fire .50-caliber machine guns, but only if a human decides lethal force is necessary. A sailor on a command ship would be in charge of each of the boats and could take control over any of the boats at any time. Also, if communication between the unmanned boats and the sailor overseeing them got disconnected, the boat would automatically shut down.
What’s particularly great about the new technology is it will free up sailors to stay aboard the ship who would normally be manning such boats. The sailors would be safer and can focus on other duties instead, like manning weapons systems.
Money won’t be an issue with the technology. The Navy doesn’t even have to purchase new ships. The small, transportable kit can be applied to existing patrol boats and aboard many large warships. Plus, the kits only cost about $2,000 each.
With the unmanned patrol boats, larger ships can be escorted with more protection. Fighting potential enemies will also be easier and fewer lives will be put directly in harm’s way.
What do you think about the technology being rolled out to fleet commanders within a year? In what situations should the unmanned boats be used for?
Posted in these groups: 
Technology
Navy
Technology Navy
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 37
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Sounds good in a conference room. So my question is this, what happens when these boats surround some hostile who then decides to jump aboard and take control? Or what happens when communication goes down and the boat is disabled, which then allows a hostile to jump aboard and take command. I think this either needs to be thought through more, unless these issues are addressed and not disclosed. I feel much better about this program if some armor/shielding was placed on these similar to what you see on construction equipment to keep it from being vandalized.
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SPC Fred Lytge
Not so into it....I do a lot of r.c. as a hobby, like 14 airplanes, 5 helicopters and 3 cars....they are prone to failure....so with that being said...there is far far more redundancy with actual people....nothing better then that.
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CPT (Join to see)
Meh... it's unlikely we'll ever be able to make it work for longer than 20 minutes, much less the enemy. Not too worried about that.
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Cpl Christopher Allen-Shinn
Can they boats be hacked & turned against us? Bad idea, but in line with the use of drones, so it'll probably happen once DON feels comfortable with the tech.
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LTC Dr Richard Wasserman, LTC (R)
Science Fiction vs Science Fact There are plenty of movies suggesting that computers might someday take over------H.A.L., Vikie,..........
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I went to Yemen as part of "Determined Response", so I'm emotionally invested in this. After reading the article about ensuring a "man in the loop" for any lethal force, and seeing the success of UAVs, I am all for this if it keeps servicemembers safer!
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