Maritime autonomous systems

Presented by Sarah Brown (Product Lead, Atlas Elektronik UK)

Naval mines have been deployed for centuries as a cheap and effective way to deny free movement of shipping.  Easy to lay, but much harder to counter, the removal of mines and the threat that they pose has been a challenge for navies who rely on access to the sea to deliver military tasks.  

The field of mine countermeasures (MCM) has traditionally been undertaken by specialist ships entering minefields or by divers deployed to targets to dispose of them.  

Recent developments in autonomous technology have changed the way that MCM can be delivered, reducing risk to personnel and increasing the speed at which minefields can be cleared.

This talk will present the journey from traditional methods to new technologies and discuss the challenges in getting from scientific theory to a product that navies can use.