Autonomous surface ship concept from DARPA will get L3 Harris design
NewsMarch 04, 2021
MELBOURNE, Fla. L3Harris Technologies has been chosen to design an autonomous surface ship concept for the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as the agency seeks to demonstrate the reliability and feasibility of an unmanned ship conducting lengthy missions.
L3Harris will present its design concept for the first phase of the two-phase DARPA No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) program; L3 Harris worked with VARD Marine (Houston, Texas) to validate the concept and design of the architecture and hull, mechanical, and electrical systems.
According to a news release on the win, L3 Harris officials state that its design features an advanced operating system that can make decisions and determine actions on its own with no direct human input, a concept that optimizes autonomous surface ship operations in order to support the U.S. Navy’s future missions.
“L3Harris continues to pioneer innovative autonomous solutions that offer fully automated and integrated ship control and preventative maintenance systems to the U.S. Navy and its allies,” said Sean Stackley, President, Integrated Mission Systems, at L3Harris. “The NOMARS program selection reinforces our commitment to deliver highly reliable and affordable autonomous solutions that transform the way the U.S. Navy conducts its future missions.”
To read additional MES coverage of the DARPA NOMARS program, click here.
