HII and Shield AI Complete Major USV Autonomy Test
HII and Shield AI announced at the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition the successful completion of their first major test integrating autonomy aboard HII's ROMULUS unmanned surface vessel (USV). This milestone advances the operational deployment of the AI-enabled ROMULUS fleet.
Details of the Test
The three-day trial took place in late October in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It combined Shield AI’s combat-proven Hivemind autonomy software, utilizing the Hivemind Enterprise software development kit (SDK), with HII’s Odyssey autonomy suite on a ROMULUS 20 USV.
Significance of the Test
This event marked the inaugural maritime deployment of Hivemind, which supports AI-driven mission autonomy across multiple domains. Achieved within six weeks of announcing their partnership, the test demonstrates rapid integration, advanced technology, and strong collaboration between the defense leaders.
“This collaboration between HII and Shield AI showcases how adaptable autonomy frameworks can accelerate development,” said Andy Green, president of HII’s Mission Technologies division.
Summary: The successful test of integrated autonomy on HII's ROMULUS USV highlights fast partnership progress and innovative AI capabilities in maritime defense technology.