Austal Australia and Greenroom Robotics have introduced a new artificial intelligence (AI) system that can turn ships into autonomous vessels in five days.
The collaboration builds on a 2024 partnership between the two Western Australia-based firms, combining Austal’s defense shipbuilding experience with Greenroom’s AI software to speed up automation across future naval and commercial fleets.
The suite uses Greenroom’s proprietary GAMA and Lookout+ programs, which receive data from onboard cameras and sensors to help ships navigate and avoid collisions without human intervention.
The applications link with Austal’s MARINELINK Prime digital onboard monitoring and control system to enable safe, self-steering operation.
In a Royal Australian Navy trial, the integrated software package completed 148 autonomous collision avoidance maneuvers over a 705-nautical-mile (1,306 kilometers/811 miles) test, showing its potential for larger-scale use.
Exceeding Limits
Austal CEO Patrick Gregg highlighted that the partnership blends traditional shipbuilding with emerging technology.
“By bringing together Austal’s shipbuilding excellence and Greenroom’s advanced AI and autonomy software, we’re creating the best of both worlds for the future of Australian shipbuilding,” he said.
Greenroom co-founder and COO Harry Hubbert added that the collaboration demonstrates how software and shipbuilding can work together to tackle modern maritime challenges.
“Greenroom Robotics’ advanced maritime autonomy software and AI-powered optical radar reduces crewing requirements and enhances situational awareness,” he said. “There’s no size limit for the technology. It works on any vessel.”
In July, Greenroom received license-free export approval to supply its AI-enabled autonomous vessel solutions for customers under the AUKUS cooperative, a trilateral security partnership between the Australian, British, and American governments.
