The United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) sees great potential in uncrewed marine systems. In an interview with TASS, Kirill Toropov, Deputy Head of USC for Civil Shipbuilding, stated that the corporation is actively developing a roadmap for marine robotic systems and plans to present a number of possible solutions to the market by the end of the year.
Promising tasks include seabed surveys, port infrastructure, pipelines, and underwater communications, as well as scientific research. USC already offers port operators a robotic solution for inspecting the underwater part of ship hulls and the bottom of water areas using computer vision. Algorithms analyze video streams, recognize objects, and identify defects, which speeds up inspections and reduces the volume of routine diving work.
Some technologies are dual-use, so the corporation adapts only authorized solutions for civilian applications. According to Toropov, with serial application, uncrewed systems can become an economically effective tool by reducing operating costs and increasing safety. Construction times depend on the purpose and level of autonomy, but USC is already analyzing demand and scenarios with potential customers.
International cooperation is a separate track: in Brazil, USC presented projects for Amazon River vessels, ice-class vessels, and research vessels for Antarctica, and also offered participation in the development of uncrewed vessels. Local construction at Brazilian shipyards with USC's engineering participation and the supply of individual components could be optimal.