MARTAC Integrated Autonomous Vision Into Unmanned Vessels

The integration allows Florida-made autonomous boats to identify and track maritime contacts without human monitoring.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Robotics

MARTAC Integrated Autonomous Vision Into Unmanned Vessels

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MARTAC has integrated the SEA.AI machine vision system into its unmanned surface vessel fleet, including the Devil Ray T38. This allows vessels to autonomously classify nearby contacts in real time, reducing the need for human oversight during patrol missions.

Why it matters

The upgrade removes the requirement for operators to constantly monitor video feeds from crewless boats, significantly increasing the operational capacity of autonomous vessels for security and surveillance.

The system combines electro-optical and thermal cameras with onboard artificial intelligence to detect vessels. It provides data that supplements traditional radar and Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking, enabling identification of contacts attempting to hide from electronic sensors.

The players

MARTAC

A Florida-based manufacturer of high-speed unmanned surface vessels including the MANTAS and Devil Ray product lines.

SEA.AI

An Austrian-based company that develops electro-optical and thermal machine vision systems for maritime contact identification.

U.S. Navy

The maritime branch of the U.S. Armed Forces that has experimentally deployed the Devil Ray T38 for autonomous surveillance.

The details

The integration utilizes artificial intelligence running directly on the sensor to identify objects and calculate their precise heading and distance. By processing raw visual data locally, the system mitigates reliance on radar or the Automatic Identification System (AIS), which is an automated tracking system that displays other vessels. This enables the 38-foot carbon-fiber Devil Ray T38, capable of exceeding 50 knots, to operate with greater autonomy during long-range missions.

2018: SEA.AI was founded.
2023: The U.S. Navy deployed the T38 in the Arabian Gulf.
May 2026: A T38 completed a 192-hour autonomous mission off California.
October 13, 2026: SEA.AI announced the integration into MARTAC vessels.

The Tech Race

This integration scales the autonomous surveillance capabilities previously explored during experimental deployments by the U.S. Navy's Task Force 59. It positions MARTAC to support persistent, long-duration maritime patrols that were previously constrained by the limits of manual video oversight.

This technology is currently intended for professional surveillance, security, and patrol use cases rather than consumer applications. Its deployment marks a transition from crewed or remotely-piloted observation toward fully autonomous vessel management for maritime operators.

The takeaway

The addition of machine vision enables autonomous boats to operate with human-like situational awareness for over a week at a time. Industry observers should watch for further performance benchmarks from the U.S. Navy following the 192-hour mission profile established in May 2026.