Revolutionary funding propels autonomous vessel startup

This Boston-based startup has unveiled its vision for constructing autonomous vessels. Established in 2024 by ex-US Navy members alongside leaders from Amazon Robotics and iRobot, the company has secured 14 million dollars (approx. 10.7 million GDP) from investors like Eclipse, Riot, and Impatient Ventures during a seed funding round, reports TechCrunch.

Blue Water Autonomy is among a growing number of startups capitalising on the investment surge in the defence sector. The company claims that within less than a year, it has developed a comprehensive set of autonomous technologies and ship design concepts. Currently, it is testing a 110-ton autonomous test vessel near Boston. The funds raised are intended to bolster the engineering team and speed up testing processes.

"Sea power has been the bedrock of America's security and prosperity for centuries," said Rylan Hamilton, co-founder and CEO of Blue Water Autonomy. "We believe the entire maritime economy is in need of transformation — it starts with supporting the U.S. Navy which needs dynamic industrial partners to bring top technology to its sailors, including ocean-going, fully autonomous ships."

Seth Winterroth, a partner at Eclipse, notes that the team is made up of Navy veterans and robotics experts. He observes that Blue Water Autonomy's development of autonomous ships is intended to enhance deterrence, especially given the threats posed by China and Russia and the strategic importance of Pacific shipping lanes.

Efforts to render military machines autonomous are not new. A pertinent example is the unmanned HIMARS, as well as numerous unmanned aerial vehicle projects that are playing an increasingly important role in conflicts.