U.S. Navy Expands AI Inspection Contract with Gecko Robotics

The U.S. Navy has significantly increased its contract with Gecko Robotics to $300 million. This contract focuses on AI-powered robots used to inspect warships. Originally set at $71 million, the expansion highlights the military’s commitment to leveraging technology for better fleet maintenance. This move aims to enhance readiness in the face of a growing shipbuilding disparity with China.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Gecko Robotics CEO Jake Loosararian emphasized the need for technological strategies to maintain U.S. naval superiority. Gecko’s technology could potentially save the Navy up to $8 million in repair costs per ship, with inspection speeds reported to be 50 times faster than traditional methods.

Gecko Robotics utilizes robotic inspections and AI-driven software to assess structural conditions on U.S. Navy warships. This technology assists maintenance crews in pinpointing areas needing attention. Additionally, Gecko introduces a new inspection robot named Komodo. Designed for the Navy, Komodo inspects steel beneath thick coatings without the need for removal of the surface layers.

“It’s essentially a CAT scan,” said Loosararian, describing Komodo’s capability to provide detailed inspection data without invasive procedures.

Gecko Robotics has cited examples where robotic inspections have reduced repair work from 1,200 square feet to approximately 300 square feet by providing more accurate assessments of damage. Gecko’s wall-climbing robots can navigate difficult areas on ships, collecting data on corrosion and structural issues. This data feeds into the AI-powered Cantilever platform, aiding maintenance planning.

The contract expansion follows a five-year, $71 million agreement initiated six months ago to extend Gecko’s robotic inspection technology across the fleet. Gecko’s robots are now part of efforts to enhance fleet readiness, with goals set toward an 80% readiness rate while addressing maintenance delays.

As China continues expanding its naval capabilities, the U.S. Navy seeks to optimize existing resources. Gecko’s long-term aim is to leverage accumulated data to predict issues before they cause extended maintenance periods.

“You are able to predict exactly what’s going to break before it does,” said Loosararian, highlighting the potential to have resources ready when a ship reaches repair points.

Gecko’s technology could reduce hazardous inspection tasks and mitigate skilled labor shortages. Loosararian pointed out that the combined use of robotics and AI allows the limited workforce to focus more on actual repairs than on determining what needs fixing.

Ultimately, for the Navy, optimizing the performance of its current fleet is as crucial as building new ships amidst competitive pressures from the expanding Chinese fleet.