Austal Australia and Greenroom Robotics have unveiled a groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of converting conventional ships into fully autonomous vessels in just five days. The innovation marks a major step forward in the race to bring automation and smart navigation to naval and commercial fleets.
The project builds upon a 2024 partnership between the two Western Australia-based firms, combining Austal’s extensive experience in defense shipbuilding with Greenroom’s cutting-edge AI software solutions. This collaboration aims to accelerate the integration of autonomous technologies across future maritime platforms, both military and civilian.
At the core of the system are Greenroom’s proprietary GAMA and Lookout+ applications. These programs collect real-time data from onboard sensors and cameras, enabling vessels to detect obstacles, assess environmental conditions, and perform navigation and collision avoidance tasks independently—without human input.
The software suite seamlessly integrates with Austal’s MARINELINK Prime onboard monitoring and control system, allowing ships to operate safely under autonomous guidance. During a Royal Australian Navy demonstration, the integrated solution executed 148 autonomous collision-avoidance maneuvers over a 705-nautical-mile (1,306 kilometers) voyage, showcasing its potential to revolutionize future fleet operations.
