Leidos’ trimaran ACTUV concept design for Sea Hunter. Photo: Leidos.

by Scott Kesselman

Leidos, a national security, health and engineering solutions company, announced that its prototype maritime autonomy system for DARPA’s Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel program completed its a voyage from Gulfport to Pascagoula, Mississippi, completely autonomously.



The maritime autonomy system is currently using a 42-foot surrogate workboat to test sensor, maneuvering and mission functions. Leidos is constructing Sea Hunter, the first ACTUV prototype vessel in Clackamas, Oregon, which is set to launch late fall this year. 



The ACTUV program aims to develop an independently deployed unmanned naval vessel with collision avoidance and the ability to operate with minimal remote control.



During the successful test, the surrogate ship was able to self-navigate 35 nautical miles of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway using the autonomy system loaded only with area navigational charts.



Tests of the system integrated with the Sea Hunter will take place in the Columbia River when the vessel is completed.

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