A major step forward in naval autonomy has been achieved as HII and Shield AI successfully conducted a dual-autonomy integration test aboard the ROMULUS unmanned surface vessel (USV). The successful demonstration marks a key milestone in the advancement of intelligent, collaborative maritime systems.
The test, showcased during the Indo Pacific International Maritime Expo, involved a three-day trial in late October where Shield AI’s Hivemind mission autonomy software operated in conjunction with HII’s Odyssey autonomy suite aboard the ROMULUS 20 USV. The collaboration tested how both systems could coordinate navigation, mission execution, and decision-making in a shared maritime environment.
Notably, this event marked the first-ever deployment of Hivemind at sea, expanding its proven aerial combat capabilities to maritime platforms. The integration demonstrated how combining two autonomy architectures could enhance multi-domain operations, enabling future fleets of unmanned vessels to operate with greater coordination and independence.
According to both companies, the success of this test underscores the growing maturity of autonomous naval technology, paving the way for smarter, more flexible unmanned systems that can perform complex missions with minimal human intervention.
