The US Navy is testing new technology that allows it to field “drone boats” capable of maneuvering and defending friendly ships without direct human interaction. 

Where many military unmanned vehicles, such Predator drones, require a human operator, the boats have limited artificial intelligence that makes them capable of automatically swarming targets. One developer likened the robot boats to “guard dogs” that could swim around a warship and detect threats before they come within striking range.

And like dogs, the robot boats actually think for themselves, with their software choosing the best route for each boat to confront a threatening vessel.

One of the riskiest places for a Naval ship is in a foreign port. The USS Cole, a guided-missile destroyer, was in the Yemeni port of Aden in October of 2000, when a small boat approached and detonated a bomb alongside the ship. There were 17 U.S. sailors killed and 39 injured.

By using drone boats, the Navy saves money and does not have to risk sailors’ lives. The unmanned patrol boats are equipped with 50 caliber machine guns and can automatically shut down if there is breakage of communication or connection between the boat and the command ship.  

Researches have been working on this advanced technology for about a decade now. What’s your opinion on U.S. Navy ships?

• They are great and should be used
• It’s unstable and men should control the boats
• Do whatever the U.S. navy thinks is best