Shield AI and HII Partner to Advance Autonomous Maritime Operations with Hivemind Integration

Hivemind Boosts Autonomous Maritime Operations via Shield AI and HII Partnership

At DSEI UK 2025 in London, Shield AI and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) unveiled a collaboration to advance modular, cross-domain mission autonomy. This partnership combines Shield AI’s Hivemind software with HII’s Odyssey suite to develop next-generation autonomous maritime solutions.

Eric Chewning, EVP of Maritime Systems and Corporate Strategy at HII, emphasized that this integration will provide U.S. and allied forces with scalable, modular capabilities across air, land, surface, and undersea environments.

Nathan Michael, CTO at Shield AI, highlighted that this collaboration accelerates autonomy deployment safely and effectively. He noted the partnership as a key step in shaping future maritime operations.

What Hivemind Brings to the Table

Hivemind is mission autonomy software that enables unmanned systems to perform complex tasks reliably, even in GPS- and communications-denied settings. Its modular design allows easy integration across various platforms and domains.

Previously, Hivemind has autonomously piloted aerial vehicles like the MQ-20 Avenger, V-BAT, and F-16. This partnership marks its expansion into the maritime domain, starting with uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) and extending to uncrewed undersea vehicles (UUVs), including HII’s REMUS platform.

Hivemind supports coordinated operations among multiple systems operating at the edge—meaning the platform itself has intelligence to sense, decide, and work independently or collaboratively without relying on constant communication.

Modularity and Open Systems

The solution adheres to a modular open systems approach (MOSA), allowing flexibility and third-party development rather than a closed black-box system. This openness encourages broader adoption and integration of Hivemind into command and control applications.

By leveraging onboard intelligence and ecosystem interaction, Hivemind-enabled systems can make autonomous decisions and achieve mission objectives effectively.

Faster, Cost-Effective Autonomy Development

Hivemind dramatically reduces time and cost for autonomous capability delivery. According to Michael, capabilities that once took a year and over a million dollars to develop can now be fielded in just two months for about $10,000.

This speed enables forces to quickly adapt and respond to shifting operational conditions, which is critical for mission success.

HII’s Odyssey Software

HII’s Odyssey autonomy software supports individual and team operations for UAVs, USVs, and UUVs across domains. Built on an open-standard, government-aligned architecture, Odyssey allows rapid integration of sensors, payloads, and third-party autonomy technologies.

It offers users the flexibility to develop and deploy new capabilities aligned with evolving naval concepts. Odyssey has been implemented on over 35 USV platforms and accumulated more than 6,000 operational hours with the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and allied forces.

Implications for Operations Professionals

• Scalable autonomy solutions can simplify complex maritime missions and reduce operator workload.
• Modular and open systems promote interoperability and ease integration with existing platforms and command infrastructures.
• Faster development cycles allow operational units to adapt technologies as mission needs evolve.

For operations teams managing unmanned maritime assets, this partnership presents practical advancements in autonomous capabilities that improve mission effectiveness while cutting costs and timelines.

To stay updated on the latest in AI-driven automation and operational technology, explore specialized resources and training at Complete AI Training.