Transforming the Depths: The Royal Navy’s AI-Powered Submarine for Next-Gen Mine Detection
The Royal Navy is harnessing artificial intelligence to deploy autonomous submersibles for the detection of underwater mines.
British geospatial and data firm Envitia, known for employing AI and machine learning to tackle complex data challenges, alongside its partner BAE Systems Applied Intelligence, has been selected to implement this innovative AI initiative for the Royal Navy.
Currently, mine-hunting operations are carried out by a fleet of vessels equipped with sonar technology, scanning seabeds for irregularities. However, these sophisticated AI-driven submersibles will greatly expedite the process of examining objects, identifying potential threats, and determining suitable actions.
The Royal Navy’s Route Survey & Tasking Analysis (RSTA) project aims to integrate autonomous vehicles, open architectures, and AI technology to establish an unmanned capability for regular mine countermeasure operations in UK waters by 2022.
Admiral Sir Philip Jones, the outgoing First Sea Lord, remarked: “AI is set to become an essential element in the future of our operations. As modern warfare transforms to become faster and increasingly focused on data, our most significant advantage will stem from our ability to navigate through vast amounts of information to respond swiftly and effectively.”
As the primary contractor, Envitia is working with BAE Systems Applied Intelligence to deliver RSTA, one of the first applications developed on the Royal Navy’s NELSON data framework. This integrated data platform ensures seamless access to Royal Navy information both at sea and ashore.
Sandy Boxall, Sales Director at BAE Systems, commented: “We are excited to collaborate with Envitia on this vital project, which aligns seamlessly with our efforts on Programme NELSON, emphasizing our commitment to support SMEs within the UK MOD marketplace.”
Additionally, Envitia is leveraging its maritime geospatial solutions to deliver precise geospatial services for the application, ensuring RSTA is equipped with reliable and up-to-date maritime data for every operation.
Nabil Lodey, CEO of Envitia, stated: “Envitia has a strong heritage in maritime data, and this initiative exemplifies our successful partnership from last year, working with clients to leverage authoritative data for mission planning and post-mission evaluations. This application has the potential to revolutionize mine surveying and significantly enhance the Navy’s mine-hunting capability, and we are proud to lead this transformation.”
Within the Mine Countermeasures and Hydrographic Capability (MHC) program, RSTA will intelligently oversee a fleet of autonomous vehicles, utilizing machine learning to assess mission conditions and improve operational success rates over time.
