A view taken from onboard the US Navy (USN) Cyclone Class Coastal Protection Ship, USS HURRICANE (PC 3), displaying 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 autos (USV), Stratom has been chosen for a Section I Small Enterprise Innovation Analysis contract to develop an autonomous refueling system that would redefine naval refueling and logistics at sea.
Because the main developer of autonomous autos and refueling robotic methods for logistics and operational functions, 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 conveyable autonomous refueling system designed to function in excessive environments, corresponding to a battlefield, to refuel plane or vans. 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 actually a pressure multiplier — and the following step towards a totally autonomous maritime pressure,” mentioned Gordon, “with DORI, we’re engineering a sensible, scalable means for uncrewed vessels to remain on mission longer, with out counting on weak crewed interventions.”
Constructing upon present 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 lengthen operational endurance, scale back personnel threat, and enhance mission flexibility in contested or distributed environments.
The Section I effort will validate the technical feasibility of the system’s automated reel mechanism and embody idea refinement, small-scale prototyping, commerce research, and integration of business bunkering finest practices. These actions will make sure the proposed technique is technically possible and aligned with operational necessities.
Trying forward, Stratom additionally sees sturdy potential for industrial deployment of DORI in ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering, a key refueling course of in industrial delivery and international maritime logistics. Automating STS bunkering might scale back high-traffic port congestion, enhance security, and reduce working prices for long-haul delivery fleets.
Stratom brings deep expertise to the event effort, efficiently transitioning robotic refueling methods developed for the Military and Navy into industrial functions. 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 means of elevated uptime, diminished labor calls for, and enhanced security.
US Navy Overlord USV Ranger umnanned vessel. | Credit score: US Navy
