US Army experiments with autonomous boat for river crossing

The tablet controller, which was connected to the MANET network for the MSPIX 25 Remote and Autonomous Control for Bridging and Rafting experiment, showing two video streams from the M30 Bridge Erection Boat. (Robosys)

The US Army experimented with an autonomous boat to support wet gap crossing operations during the Maneuver Support & Protection Integration Experiment 2025 (MSPIX 25), a defence industry executive told Janes recently.

Held at Fort Leonard Wood from 12 to 15 May, MSPIX 25 featured Robosys Automation, in conjunction with Vector Controls and Persistent Systems (PS), demonstrating its Remote and Autonomous Control for Bridging and Rafting (RAC4BAR) solution. The experiment “examines capabilities and concepts that address modernization needs for MSP to inform future Army capability requirements”, according to a February army solicitation.

For the demonstration Robosys adopted an open architecture approach utilising industry standards to retrofit an existing M30 Bridge Erection Boat (BEB) and enable remote command (RC) and autonomous operations of the vessel. The RAC4BAR system was designed to show various levels of command, autonomy, and monitoring from different ranges in order to avoid personnel being exposed to danger, Nigel Lee, Robosys chief strategy officer, told Janes on 22 May.

For the experiment Vector Controls modified the vessel propulsion and steering controls to fly-by-wire Controller Area Network (CAN) Bus controls, enabling digital control via an internet protocol (IP) network. A MIL-STD computer was fitted to the vessel to host the Robosys Voyager artificial intelligence (AI) autopilot software, together with a mast-mounted PS MPU5 radio to provide network connectivity. Two remote piloting IP cameras were installed for situational awareness for the remote operators in addition to a GPS receiver and compass for position and heading information, Lee said.