US Coast Guard announces $350 million investment in robotics and autonomous systems
VideoRay Defender remotely operated vehicle. (Photo: VideoRay)
The USCG will use part of this funding to acquire SkyDio X10D short-range uncrewed aircraft systems, VideoRay Defender remotely operated vehicles and Qinetiq Squad Packable Utility and mini-SPUR robots.
The US Coast Guard (USCG) announced on 24 September a US$350 million package for the procurement of robotics and autonomous systems as part of its effort to improve and increase its inventory of uncrewed and counter-unmanned platforms.
The first investments will cover the acquisition of 125 SkyDio X10D short-range unmanned aircraft systems (SR-UAS), 16 VideoRay Defender remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and six Qinetiq Squad Packable Utility Robot (SPUR) and 12 mini-SPUR robots.
Anthony Antognoli, USCG programme executive officer for Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS), claimed that the new capabilities will “provide increased domain awareness, mitigating risk and enhancing mission
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