Tomorrow is Today

New Video of DARPA’s Anti-Submarine Drone

If there’s suspicions that a diesel sub is in the area, the US Navy can deploy sonar buoys that give the ACTUV an inkling of where to go first. After that, the drone takes over with both long-range and short-range sonar. The vehicle can gauge the intent of ships in its path (with human failsafes) and hound a target for up to 13 weeks — either letting the Navy close in for an attack or, ideally, spooking the sub into avoiding conflict in the first place. 

(via SAIC shows how DARPA’s submarine-tracking drone ship finds its silent targets (video))