The Americans will control the coastal waters with the help of surface robots. Yesterday, January 31, the press service of the Central Command of the US Navy (NAVCENT) announced the beginning of successful operation of the Saildrone Explorer autonomous vehicle.
An unmanned boat resembling a surfboard with a sail has been working autonomously for more than a month, performing tasks in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Bahrain. According to the commander of the task force Thomas McAndrew, the initial stage of operation of the Saildrone Explorer exceeded all expectations, and soon the field of activity of these drones will be expanded.
Saildrone Explorer Unmanned Vehicle
Image source: navy.mil
Saildrone Explorer is 7 m long and less than 5 m high. The autonomous boat is powered by wind and solar energy. An extensive set of sensors allows you to monitor the movement of various objects in the sea. At the same time, the US Navy does not disclose all the capabilities of the unmanned vehicle. Earlier in the description of the program it was indicated that such devices can track surface and underwater targets, as well as serve as repeaters for submarines.
