A new chapter in naval autonomy is taking shape as HII and Shield AI completed a successful dual-autonomy integration test aboard the ROMULUS unmanned surface vessel (USV).
The milestone, revealed at the Indo Pacific International Maritime Expo, follows a three-day trial in late October that saw Shield AI’s Hivemind mission autonomy software tested alongside HII’s Odyssey autonomy suite on a ROMULUS 20 USV.
It also marked the first time Hivemind, already proven in combat-ready aerial systems, has gone to sea.
The integration came together in less than six weeks since the partnership was announced, highlighting rapid development timelines and cross-domain compatibility.
“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.
“Using the Hivemind Enterprise SDK, our teams integrated capabilities quickly and effectively. The successful deployment on ROMULUS 20 validates the power of this partnership and paves the way for even greater autonomy across the ROMULUS fleet.”
Pushing the Boundaries of Naval Autonomy
ROMULUS is a modular surface vessel line built around commercial-standard hulls to simplify production and maintenance.
The lead vessel, ROMULUS 190, is still under construction and is expected to top 25 knots (29 miles/46 kilometers per hour). It will also be able to operate up to 2,500 nautical miles (2,875 miles/4,630 kilometers) and carry four 40-foot (12-meter) mission containers.
Both Odyssey and Hivemind will serve as the vessel’s core autonomy components, enabling future ROMULUS platforms to operate in swarms, share sensor and targeting data, and execute missions more independently.
“Delivering autonomy across domains is key to maintaining a credible deterrent posture in today’s complex geopolitical environment,” added Nathan Michael, Shield AI’s chief technology officer.
“We look forward to continuing to expand multi-domain autonomy together.”
