Us navy leaps forward with ai-powered ship inspection
In a groundbreaking move, the US Navy has sealed a five-year deal with robotics firm Gecko Robotics to enhance its ship inspection and maintenance capabilities with cutting-edge ai and robotic technologies.
Historic contract worth $54 million to begin, $71 million total
Gecko Robotics, based in Pittsburgh, has secured its largest contract to date with the Navy, valued at an initial $54 million, with a ceiling of $71 million. The agreement marks a significant step forward for the Navy's efforts to reduce maintenance delays and optimize its operational readiness.
Under the terms of the contract, Gecko will begin working with 18 ships from the Pacific Fleet, applying its innovative technologies - including wall-climbing robots, drones, and fixed sensors - to identify potential issues and defects on the exterior of these vessels.
Ai-powered inspections to speed up maintenance by 50x
Gecko's ai-driven platform, Cantilever, enables the company's robots to collect vast datasets and transform them into actionable insights that inform maintenance decisions. This cutting-edge approach allows for defects to be identified and prioritized 50 times faster than manual inspections, reducing downtime and increasing overall fleet readiness.
Gecko's technology has already proven its value in earlier Navy contracts. In 2021, the company deployed its robots on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and amphibious assault ships under a $5 million deal with Huntington Ingalls Industries. Additionally, Gecko was selected in 2023 to inspect welds on the Navy's next-generation Columbia-class submarines, a $132 billion program.
The partnership with the Navy builds on Gecko's growing presence in the defense sector. In February, the company partnered with Trident Maritime Systems to implement advanced manufacturing technologies across over 20 facilities, aiming to boost productivity by at least 40%.
As the Navy takes the lead in adopting ai and robotics for its maintenance needs, this historic contract with Gecko Robotics marks a significant milestone in the transformation of the US Navy's maintenance capabilities.