Autonomous maritime operations are becoming a growing focus in Taiwan as Shield AI and Thunder Tiger move to integrate Hivemind autonomy software into uncrewed surface vessels.
A live demonstration scheduled for this summer will showcase the integrated system’s ability to navigate and execute missions autonomously.
Hivemind as an AI Pilot
Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy platform is designed to function as an AI pilot for unmanned systems across air and maritime domains.
It is described as a resilient autonomy solution built for multi-agent teaming in GPS- and communications-denied environments.
The system enables autonomous navigation, sensor processing, decision-making, and mission execution without continuous human control.
Rather than being tied to a single platform, Hivemind operates across multiple systems through a shared AI architecture linking sea and air operations.
According to the companies, the integration roadmap includes simulation-based testing, hardware-in-the-loop integration, and live vehicle trials.
Taiwan Expands Autonomous Capabilities
The collaboration comes as Taiwan continues investing in unmanned and autonomous systems for maritime surveillance and coastal defense missions.
It builds on Shield AI’s earlier agreement with Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology to support the development of AI-enabled unmanned systems using Hivemind software.
The new agreement expands Hivemind’s role in Taiwan from aerial applications into maritime operations.