U.S. Navy Adopts Robotics for Faster Hull Inspections

A $300 million contract brings Gecko Robotics' Komodo system to drydocks to reduce vessel inspection times by 50x.

Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Robotics

Isometric editorial illustration showing a robotic crawler device on a steel ship hull, representing automated maritime structural inspections. — The U.S. Navy has finalized a $300 million contract with Gecko Robotics to utilize wall-crawling technology for faster ship hull inspections. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should the government prioritize implementing AI-powered robots to lower long-term maintenance costs?

In October 2026, the U.S. Navy signed a $300 million contract with Gecko Robotics to deploy wall-crawling robots for ship inspections. This technology is now actively used in drydock to identify structural defects in vessel hulls.

Why it matters

The shift toward automated inspection addresses chronic maintenance challenges caused by saltwater corrosion. By accelerating defect detection, the Navy aims to reduce repair timelines and operational downtime for its fleet.

The Komodo system operates 50 times faster than traditional inspection methods. Its Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) sensors can scan through paint, rust, and up to 150mm of metal plating.

The players

U.S. Navy

The maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces tasked with maintaining the readiness of its global naval fleet.

Gecko Robotics

A developer of industrial wall-climbing robotics designed for structural inspections in energy, manufacturing, and defense sectors.

The details

The Komodo robot uses Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) sensors to detect structural flaws. An EMAT sensor is a device that generates ultrasonic waves via electromagnetic induction to inspect materials without needing direct physical coupling to the surface. These waves travel through the hull to identify cracks or corrosion, allowing the system to inspect ships while in drydock.

August 2026: The USS Abraham Lincoln returned to port showing significant rust buildup.
October 2026: The U.S. Navy finalized the $300 million contract with Gecko Robotics.

The Tech Race

The adoption of the Komodo system signifies a shift in maritime maintenance away from manual labor toward robotic diagnostics. Gecko Robotics is currently extending this capability through the development of the Axolotl tool, which aims to enable underwater inspections without requiring drydock access.

The technology is currently used by maintenance crews in drydock settings to streamline inspections of vessel hulls. Future iterations, such as the in-development Axolotl robot, are projected to eventually allow for inspections without needing to move ships to a drydock.

The takeaway

The transition to automated hull scanning represents a move toward lower maintenance overhead in the U.S. Navy fleet. Observers should track the development of the Axolotl system, which would effectively eliminate the drydock requirement for structural inspections.