Click here - to select or create a menu

Naval News

DEFEA 2023
  • News
  • Event News
    • Sea Air Space 2023
    • DSEI Japan 2023
    • NAVDEX 2023
    • SNA 2023
    • Euronaval 2022
    • Indo Pacific 2022
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Advertising
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Home» News»Royal Navy Take Control From Land Of Madfox Autonomous Vessel In Latest Trials
IMDEX Asia 2023
Madfox Autonomous Boat Docked at HMNB Portsmouth (Royal Navy/LPhot Bradley picture)

Royal Navy Take Control From Land Of Madfox Autonomous Vessel In Latest Trials

For the first time the Royal Navy has driven a fast stealth boat in the Solent, controlling it remotely from land.

Martin Manaranche 02 Jun 2021

Royal Navy press release

Commanded by a laptop, tablet and two sailors in a tent overlooking the water at Browndown Beach in Gosport, the MADFOX autonomous boat was used to test the theory – and practice – of operating a boat from ashore, using it to monitor Solent shipping from afar.

Up to now, MADFOX (MAritime Demonstrator For Operational eXperimentation) has been controlled from on board.

But in a harbinger of future missions, sailors have now operated the vessel from range, taking on new skills and challenges.

The sailors were taught how to interpret the live feed from the vessel’s sensors and cameras – including a high-resolution zoom which can identify people on ships at a distance.

As a safety measure personnel were aboard MADFOX, but the boat’s movements, speed and heading were controlled by personnel ashore.

The command node on land afforded an over-watch of the experimentation area. The simple set-up is itself a link to the future, where the node will be integrated into ships like the next-generation Type 26 and Type 31 frigates.

It is hoped the vessel, and other systems like it, could deploy with Royal Navy ships in future operations, carrying out tasks from force protection to surveillance.

“It might seem like remote-controlled boats on a park lake, however, this is a significant milestone as navy personnel gain confidence in operating at speed and dislocated from the vessel.”

“It’s not what we are used to after years standing watch on board ships of the current Fleet. Lessons from these recent serials will be used to build ever more complex serials ahead of integration into Operational Experimentation activity where the project will add tactical value, helping to shape the blended Fleet of tomorrow.”

Commander Antony Crabb, in charge of NavyX

The investment in MADFOX comes as the Royal Navy and Royal Marines look to expand their use of crewless and autonomous equipment.

“This is a significant milestone as navy personnel gain confidence in operating at speed and dislocated from the vessel.”

Commander Antony Crabb, in charge of NavyX

-End-

L3Harris Royal Navy Type 26 Type 31 United Kingdom 2021-06-02
Tags L3Harris Royal Navy Type 26 Type 31 United Kingdom
Facebook Twitter Stumble linkedin Pinterest More
SAS 2023

Related Articles

UK Commandos land on frozen lake during Arctic parachute jump

UK Commandos land on frozen lake during Arctic parachute jump

Naval News Staff 21 Mar 2023
Royal Marines parachuted onto a frozen lake alongside Dutch counterparts as part of large-scale exercises in the Arctic Circle.
Integrated Review underlines enduring importance of maritime domain for UK interests

Integrated Review underlines enduring importance of maritime domain for UK interests

Dr Lee Willett 14 Mar 2023
The UK’s refresh of its Integrated Review (IR), published on 13 March, has underlined the enduring importance of the maritime domain and maritime capabilities to UK interests.
Animal Dynamics’ Stork STM parafoil UAV selected for Royal Navy’s UAS Heavy Lift Challenge

Animal Dynamics’ Stork STM parafoil UAV selected for Royal Navy’s UAS Heavy Lift Challenge

Naval News Staff 14 Mar 2023
Animal Dynamics press release The Stork STM is an autonomous aerial logistics vehicle, capable of ...

Advertisement

Advertisement

Legal / Privacy Policy
About Us
Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 Naval News
All Rights Reserved
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok