New startup: Robot ships will land in the sea before flying cars

It appears that autonomous ships will be able to make themselves felt on the sea before flying cars, fondly addressed as human dreams. Boston-based company Blue Water Autonomy in the US is working with full steam in that direction. The company has been established by veterans of iRobot, US Navy and Amazon Robotics and one of their ambitions is to transform entirely the meaning of naval operations.

Blue Water Autonomy has secured initial funds of $14 million (approximately Rs 117 crore), which will be utilized for the development of captainless ships. The initial funds have come from Eclipse VC, Riot Ventures, and Impatient Ventures. The funds will be utilized for enhancing technology and pushing forward testing procedures.

Started in 2024, the company has developed its Autonomy Technology Stack in just a year and has also completed preliminary designs for fully automated marine vessels. Blue Water Autonomy has become one of the fastest-growing US defense startups, which have gained momentum from heavy investments in defense technology.

According to reports, Blue Water Autonomy has started open-water trials with a 100-tonne Autonomous Test Vessel off the coast of Boston. After the latest funding, the company will further expand its team of engineers and take the tests to the next level and is preparing to get closer to the deployment of new generation Autonomous Naval Systems.

Through this technology, the navies of the US and other countries will be able to carry out maritime surveillance and security missions with less staff and at a lower cost. In today's time when tensions persist in the Pacific Ocean and the Black Sea and America's shipbuilding capabilities lag behind China, the technology of Blue Water Autonomy can become a cheap and smart option. This startup will also help the US Navy to maintain its presence on strategic trade routes such as the Red Sea, Indo-Pacific.