Sensor and AI System for Plymouth Sound

M Subs Ltd has announced it has installed a ‘game changing’ sensor system with connected artificial intelligence (AI) machine-learning technology around Plymouth Sound as part of the vision to turn the city into a center of excellence in maritime autonomy and unmanned vehicles.

Plymouth-based M Subs  will operate a secure network of cameras, radars, and other sensors which will provide situational awareness and communications with the unmanned vehicles operating out of the city’s harbor.

The system will also provide the command & control of unmanned vehicles using the nearby ranges at sea.  Data from the network is being collected and analyzed by machine learning programs by M Subs’ growing AI team, with the assistance of Thales and a global and corporate partner leading in the field of machine learning and artificial intelligence.  

The results of this work will finalize development of the computing system at the heart of the maritime AI system to navigate the Mayflower Autonomous Ship across the Atlantic Ocean in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the original Mayflower sailing in 1620.

In October 2018, Thales announced it was opening a new maritime autonomy center at Plymouth, with an aim to build relationships with industry and academia to operate unmanned vessels out of the Sound.

M Subs is working with partners at the Plym Yacht Club, the Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club, the Queen’s Harbor Master, and of course Thales.