Improving and Modernizing Navy Shipyards Through Precise, Drone-Based Digital Twins and Autonomous Inspection

The operational readiness of Navy shipyards and facilities is critical for supporting fleet operations and lethality. However, shipyard infrastructure is aging, and maintenance is complicated by limited or outdated records. Current inspection and renovation processes rely heavily on manual labor, which is both time-consuming and prone to inefficiencies, ultimately hindering communication and operational outcomes. Regular digitization of critical infrastructure can boost operational availability by providing improved visibility into infrastructure conditions and enabling more efficient repair planning. However, few existing solutions can quickly scan large areas without sacrificing data precision and accuracy, resulting in unreliable information and insight for planning purposes. To fully realize the benefits of digitization, Near Earth Autonomy will build upon the Phase I effort to develop a high-precision, GPS-free mobile 3D scanner capable of  accurately mapping and inspecting Navy infrastructure. High-precision mobile scanning is vital for realizing  the advantages of digitalized infrastructure, as it allows for rapid, user-friendly scanning that is easier to incorporate into busy shipyard workflows. Demonstrations thus far (as part of Phase I) have shown the ability to cover large areas quickly, indicating the potential to streamline inspections, renovations, and maintenance activities.  In Phase II, Near Earth Autonomy will extend the Phase I work by transforming the prototype scanner into a regularly deployable tool for dry dock inspections. Key improvements include integrating 3D photo data, reducing processing time, enhancing analytics to distinguish different structures, and ensuring compatibility with 3D data management systems. These enhancements will enable comprehensive inspections, more effective planning, and smoother execution of shipyard operations. By merging high-resolution imagery with point clouds,  the scanner will capture both structural details and visual indicators, like paint conditions and corrosion, enabling better remote monitoring of asset health. Automated object recognition will allow rapid location and tracking of critical components such as pumps and pipes. Finally, by synchronizing with established 3D management platforms and reducing post-processing overhead, Near Earth will ensure seamless integration of the scanner into existing workflows.