Coast Guard to deploy autonomous saildrones on Great Lakes

The U.S. Coast Guard announced plans to deploy autonomous, wind- and solar-powered surface vessels called Saildrones across the Great Lakes from May through October 2026. The deployment, part of a contract with Saildrone, aims to expand maritime surveillance and data collection in a region covering over 90,000 square miles, including international shipping routes. The Saildrones use hybrid-electric propulsion, wind propulsion from Saildrone Wings, and solar energy to power their batteries. Each vessel is equipped with radar, optical sensors, and collision-avoidance technology, while human operators monitor operations remotely. The Coast Guard’s Robotics and Autonomous Systems Program Executive Office (RAS PEO), established in summer 2025, oversees the initiative to integrate autonomous systems into routine missions. The deployment aligns with the Coast Guard’s broader strategy to incorporate unmanned systems into maritime domain awareness, supplementing—not replacing—crewed vessels. According to the Coast Guard’s Unmanned Systems Strategic Plan, autonomous systems will help preserve personnel readiness by assisting until human intervention is required. Saildrone’s unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) are designed for long-endurance missions, including detecting illegal activity, gathering environmental data, and supporting emergency responses. The Great Lakes deployment marks a shift from one-off demonstrations to operational use, pairing commercial USVs with Coast Guard mission needs. The Coast Guard emphasizes that autonomous systems will work alongside human crews, ensuring safety and efficiency in maritime operations.