Indo Pacific 2025: HII, Shield AI mark first integrated autonomy test on Romulus USV
A visualisation of the Romulus USV that has undergone the autonomy trials. (HII)
American shipbuilder HII and defence technology company Shield AI have successfully conducted the first major test of their integrated autonomy solution aboard an HII Romulus unmanned surface vehicle (USV).
The milestone was announced in a joint media release issued during the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition 2025 in Sydney, which runs from 4 to 6 November.
The three-day trial of the USV was held in late October 2025 at Virginia Beach, said the companies in the media release.
During the trials, the USV combined Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy software with HII's Odyssey autonomy suite on a Romulus 20 USV.
The milestone is a key step towards operational deployment of the Romulus fleet, the companies said.
Romulus is a modular USV platform and the lead vessel, Romulus 190, is currently under construction.
It is designed to exceed speeds of 25 kt and operate over distances of up to 2,500 n miles. Romulus 190 can carry up to four 40 ft containers.
For more information, please see Austal completes sea trials for Australia's autonomous patrol boat project .
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