Intelligent Systems for Improved Operations and Modernization of Navy Shipyards

To combat the mounting workforce shortages surrounding the maritime industrial base and to help stem the growing disparityĀbetween the US NavalĀfleet and its peer adversaries,ĀBoston Engineering is proposing a suite of robotic vehicles for use in America's public shipyards. Due to the array of environments, tasks, materials, etc., a combination of different vehicles, non-destructive inspection (NDI) tools, and sensors will allow for the successful autonomous completion of the variety of tasks important to NAVFAC. The proposed solution uses a platform vehicle, to act as the autonomous transport of the prescribed NDI capability, e.g., ultrasound scan,Āand mission specific inspection vehicle, e.g., an unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV), underwater suction-adhering crawling robot, etc. This platform vehicle will transport these tools around the shipyard and put them in place to complete the inspection. TheĀplatform vehicle will use a marsupial-like setup to provide power, etc. to the inspecting vehicle and, upon mission completion, retrieve the satellite vehicle and continue to its next objective. This project is the next logical step in an emerging family of shipyard roboticsĀthat Boston Engineering, along withĀpartnering companies and in conjunction with the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) is currently developing.