Unmanned Maritime Systems Research Articles

Navigating uncharted waters: Legal challenges and the future of unmanned underwater vehicles in maritime military cyber operations

The evolving landscape of maritime security is increasingly shaped by the integration of cyber technologies into naval operations, posing complex legal challenges under international maritime law. This paper examines the 2016 Bowditch incident, in which a U.S. Navy Unmanned Underwater Vehicle was detained by the Chinese navy, as a case study for comprehending the legal implications of maritime military cyber operations. The research delves into the ambiguous legal standing of unmanned underwater vehicles and their activities, particularly within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Through a detailed analysis of the incident, this study identifies significant gaps in existing legal frameworks and advocates for the urgent need to augment international law to adequately address the emergence of cyber technologies in maritime military operations. The findings underscore the crucial role of international consensus in defining the legal status of unmanned maritime systems and the norms governing maritime military cyber operations, essential for upholding global maritime security and stability.

Distributed coverage optimisation for a fleet of unmanned maritime systems

<p>Unmanned maritime systems (UMS) can provide important benefits for maritime law enforcement agencies for tasks such as area surveillance and patrolling, especially when they are able to work together as one coordinated system. In this context, this paper proposes a methodology that optimises the coverage of a fleet of UMS, thereby maximising the opportunities for identifying threats. Unlike traditional approaches to maritime coverage optimisation, which are also used, for example, in search and rescue operations when searching for victims at sea, this approach takes into consideration the limited seaworthiness of small UMS, compared with traditional large ships, by incorporating the danger level into the design of the optimiser.</p>

International law and the military use of unmanned maritime systems

AbstractUnmanned maritime systems (UMSs) comprise an important subcategory of unmanned military devices. While much of the normative debate concerning the use of unmanned aerial and land-based devices applies equally to those employed on or under water, UMS present unique challenges in understanding the application of existing law. This article summarizes the technological state of the art before considering, in turn, the legal status of UMSs, particularly under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the regulation of their use under the law of naval warfare. It is not yet clear if UMSs enjoy status as ships under UNCLOS; even if they do, it is unlikely that they can be classified as warships. Nevertheless, their lawful use is not necessarily precluded in either peacetime or armed conflict.

Coordinated efforts and vision in contemporary unmanned maritime systems research and development

Coordinated efforts and vision in contemporary unmanned maritime systems research and development

Technologies and Applications for Unmanned Maritime Systems

Technologies and Applications for Unmanned Maritime Systems

Unmanned Maritime Vehicles: Technology Evolution and Implications

AbstractThis paper reviews the technological advances of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) since 2008, evolution of gliders and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and the roles, designs, and capabilities of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). It describes the uses for those vehicles, how they have evolved and gained trusting users, and how they converge in complementary roles. Predictions for the evolution of unmanned maritime vehicles’ (UMVs) roles and operations are made. The paper is broad in scope and looks beyond the technology in an attempt to explain the relationship between technology evolution and user adoption. The research and findings stem from years of technical and business analysis, reports, interviews, and assistance to stakeholders of the unmanned maritime systems (UMS) industry by the author.