Robotic Manipulation Learning for Repair of Marine Diesel Engines

Naval and maritime assets require extensive maintenance to ensure vessels and equipment remain operational while underway. The Department of the Navy (DON) faces further challenges in maintaining unmanned assets, which must remain ready for up to 180 days without human intervention. To address this, the DON is developing advanced technologies for system redundancy and autonomous maintenance to extend or defer major maintenance tasks while maintaining mission viability. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between simulations and real-world applications by developing autonomous robotic systems capable of performing essential maintenance tasks aboard unmanned naval vessels. These tasks include valve operations, component replacements, and fluid management, all critical to keeping systems operational during extended deployments. The integration of AI and machine learning will allow robots to operate autonomously, even in complex and constrained environments. The goal is to reduce human involvement in maintenance tasks, ensuring the Navy's unmanned maritime platforms remain ready for deployment while minimizing logistical burdens associated with human-maintained systems.