A view taken from onboard the US Navy (USN) Cyclone Class Coastal Protection Ship, USS HURRICANE (PC 3), exhibiting a trailing refueling line being prolonged from the USN Oliver Hazard Perry Class: Guided Missile Frigate, USS JOHN H. SIDES. | Credit score: US Navy
Because the Navy expands its fleet of uncrewed floor automobiles (USV), Stratom has been chosen for a Part I Small Enterprise Innovation Analysis contract to develop an autonomous refueling system that might redefine naval refueling and logistics at sea.
Because the main developer of autonomous automobiles and refueling robotic techniques for logistics and operational purposes, the contract will leverage Stratom’s Deployable Onboard Refueling Interface, or DORI, an automatic system designed to let USVs refuel with out human intervention.
Stratom was honored with an RBR50 in 2023 for RAPID, a transportable autonomous refueling system designed to function in excessive environments, reminiscent of a battlefield, to refuel plane or vehicles. Mark Gordon, CEO of Stratom, appeared on episode 154 of The Robotic Report Podcast, the place he supplies an replace on Stratom’s roadmap.
“Autonomous refueling is really a drive multiplier — and the following step towards a completely autonomous maritime drive,” mentioned Gordon, “with DORI, we’re engineering a sensible, scalable approach for uncrewed vessels to remain on mission longer, with out counting on susceptible crewed interventions.”
Constructing upon current naval refueling infrastructure whereas introducing focused automation, Stratom’s DORI system integrates a hose retrieval system, notion sensors, an automatic reel mechanism, and a quick-release coupling for emergency disconnects. By enabling USVs to soundly and reliably refuel whereas underway with out human intervention, the system will prolong operational endurance, scale back personnel danger, and improve mission flexibility in contested or distributed environments.
The Part I effort will validate the technical feasibility of the system’s automated reel mechanism and embrace idea refinement, small-scale prototyping, commerce research, and integration of business bunkering greatest practices. These actions will make sure the proposed methodology is technically possible and aligned with operational necessities.
Wanting forward, Stratom additionally sees sturdy potential for business deployment of DORI in ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering, a key refueling course of in business delivery and world maritime logistics. Automating STS bunkering might scale back high-traffic port congestion, enhance security, and minimize working prices for long-haul delivery fleets.
Stratom brings deep expertise to the event effort, efficiently transitioning robotic refueling techniques developed for the Military and Navy into business purposes. RAPID, the corporate’s autonomous refueling, recharging, and liquid switch platform for robotic floor and plane refueling, proves the worth of automating complicated fueling operations by way of elevated uptime, lowered labor calls for, and enhanced security.
US Navy Overlord USV Ranger umnanned vessel. | Credit score: US Navy
