Sliding autonomy enables the CUSV and other unmanned surface vessels to make local, over-the-horizon, and operational control decisions onboard the unmanned vessel, using interfaces to the unmanned vessel's maritime command and control system -- based on the One System architecture, developed for unmanned aircraft by engineers at AAI Corp. in Hunt Valley, Md., which is a Textron company. One System can control several different unmanned vehicles with one operator using the system's command-and-control station.
During the exercise, Textron officials report their CUSV autonomous patrol boat was the only fully unmanned vessel with not even a safety rider aboard to participate, and was never unavailable or down for maintenance during the exercise, Textron officials say. The vessel's AMN technology directed the CUSV to perform 30 tasks, or "behaviors," such as monitoring positions and blocking intruding vessels.
Textron experts designed the CUSV also to perform tasks such as mine warfare; antisubmarine warfare; communications relay; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; as well as launching and recovering unmanned aircraft and unmanned surface vessels.
For more information contact Textron Systems online at www.textronsystems.com.
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