Robot spy boat designed to hunt down terrorists takes to the River Thames

The Royal Navy has unveiled an autonomous robo-boat which could soon be hunting down terrorists on the River Thames.

Yesterday, the 32ft Maritime Autonomy Surface Testbed (MAST) sped past the Houses of Parliament ahead of a military exercise called Unmanned Warrior involving 40 other unmanned vessels.

The cyber-ship is unarmed, but fitted with cameras, GPS and radio systems to help it spot enemy crafts.

It uses an advanced "Bladerunner" hull and is designed to autonomously carry out reconnaissance missions, sneaking up to suspicious ships to decide if they are a threat which needs the attention of armed vessels.

Admiral Sir Philip Jones, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, said: “The growing scale of Unmanned Warrior is a clear demonstration of the Royal Navy’s ambition to lead and win through technological innovation.

"Unmanned maritime systems will change how we operate, but they’re just the start. Our pursuit of new technologies and ideas – from big data to 3D-printing – will ensure we remain one of the most capable and successful navies in the world.”

The MAST craft can achieve speeds of 60mph without a human at the helm. However, it can also carries a coxswain who can take the wheel if it needs to journey through difficult or busy waters.

Fleet Robotic Officer Commander Peter Pipkin said: "This is a chance to take a great leap forward in Maritime Systems - not take people out of the loop but to enhance everything they do, to extend our reach, our look, our timescales, our efficiency using intelligent and manageable robotics at sea."