Maritime Domain Awareness

Saildrone’s autonomous platforms are specially equipped to provide persistent, cost-effective solutions to increase maritime domain awareness—enhancing information and decision advantage by providing edge-processed and raw data from a suite of surface and subsurface sensors.

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Days at sea: 10,450
Miles sailed: 657,567
Samples collected: 407M
Explorer Emissions: Zero

Missions

Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR)

Operating above and below the sea surface providing strategic observation, vehicle tracking, and communications

Force Protection

Saildrone uncrewed surface vehicles offer enhanced threat detection for vulnerable assets

Law Enforcement & Maritime Safety

Detection and alerting for multiple use cases including piracy, narcotics, human trafficking, or illegal fishing activities

Ecosystem Monitoring

Oceanographic and meteorological monitoring in marine sanctuaries and protected areas

Maximizing information and decision advantage in real time with uncrewed 24/7/365 operation with ML-enabled contact detection.

ML-enabled Maritime Domain Awareness
Saildrone USVs utilize machine learning models running onboard GPU compute processors to deliver real-time, visual detection of targets that are otherwise not transmitting their position. These detection events are then fused with other data sources to deliver a fully informed picture of the surrounding maritime domain.

Satellite enabled, global, secure, C2 infrastructure
Globally available encrypted satellite communications
Secure web-based “Mission Portal” for data analysis
API for data integration into other systems

Why Saildrone?

Cost-effective, persistent MDA in any ocean

24/7 autonomous operations monitoring with real-time data transmission via satellite communications

Up to 365 days without returning to port for maintenance or refueling

Reduced fuel consumption and carbon footprint

Secure, encrypted data, vehicle to cloud

Defense and commercial configurations available

Saildrone Voyager

Saildrone Voyager – 33-foot (10 m) Uncrewed Surface Vehicle
The 33-foot (10 m) Saildrone Voyager is designed to carry a payload of sensors to collect data above and below the sea surface. A 21-foot (6 m) wing provides wind power for forward propulsion and solar panels power onboard science and navigation instruments. Saildrones can be equipped with an acoustic payload for specific mission requirements: a single-beam or multibeam sonar for bathymetry, an echo sounder for fisheries surveys, or an ADCP for current measurements.

Specifications

33-foot (10 m) long
Composite hull and keel
Hybrid diesel/electric powertrain
Wind propulsion 4 knots avg.
Electric propulsion
• 5 knots cruise speed
• 8 knots sprint speed
>180 days endurance
Radar, cameras, ML
Passive acoustics
AIS transceiver

MDA Exercises

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) Operations

In September 2021, the US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), consisting of the US 5th FLEET and Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), launched Task Force 59 to evaluate how unmanned systems maritime domain awareness capabilities (MDA) could extend the reach of traditional manned assets.
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NAVCENT began testing Saildrone Explorers equipped for MDA missions in the Gulf of Aqaba and the Arabian Gulf in Winter 2022. Two vehicles were also operated as part of the International Maritime Exercise/Cutlass Express 2022, the world’s largest maritime exercise.

US Coast Guard Demonstration

In October 2020, Saildrone performed a successful 30-day proof-of-concept demonstration for the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to show how uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) could be used to provide persistent maritime domain awareness (MDA) at sea. Six saildrones were stationed in an operating area adjacent to Penguin Bank, west of Molokai, Hawaii.
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The exercise highlighted specific real-world use cases for persistent MDA: general traffic monitoring, illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing, search and patrol, and port security.

Saildrone Founder & CEO Richard Jenkins Recognized with Michelson Award for Innovation

The Albert A. Michelson Award, presented at Sea Air Space 2022 by the Navy League of the United States, recognizes outstanding achievement by industry innovators and leaders.

The annual award is presented to a “civilian scientist, technical innovator or group or organization that has demonstrated scientific or technical achievement that has resulted in a significant improvement in the strength of our maritime forces or to the enhancement of our industrial-technology base.”

In 2021, Saildrone sent 23-foot Explorer into the eye of category 4 Hurricane Sam in the Atlantic Ocean collecting scientific measurements and HD video that could transform understanding of hurricane forecasting.

In the News

Drones, AI, and Task Force 59: A Solution for the UAE Navy’s Lack of Manpower

Unmanned systems and AI could help bridge the gap in Gulf navies and provide new opportunities for the US and its partners to maintain maritime security.

The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington - June 2022 Learn More

Operation Sentinel Tests Out Saildrones for Security Patrols

Operation Sentinel, a multinational security task force currently headed up by the Royal Navy, has tested a version of the US-built Saildrone USV for use in maritime security.

The Maritime Executive - June 2022 Learn More

NAVCENT Commander: Goal of 100 USVs in Area by Summer of 2023

Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said his task force for unmanned vehicle experimentation, Task Force 59, “has exceeded our every expectation.”

Seapower Magazine - March 2022 Learn More

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Explore Using Saildrones for Maritime Domain Awareness

Interested in exploring how autonomous technologies can help you achieve your MDA/ISR objectives to sense, decide, and act more quickly and effectively?

Tell us about your maritime security needs and get started planning your solution today.