Even before it is formally delivered to the Navy, the future USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13) is performing a series of planned test events assessing autonomous capabilities integrated into the shipboard configuration, demonstrating that a large ship can become a self-driving platform.
Shipbuilder, Austal USA was awarded a $44 million contract last June to deliver autonomous capabilities to the Expeditionary Fast Transport vessel, while retaining capability for manned operations.
The ship is a multi-use...