Saildrone to use Palantir AI to help manage operations, supply chain

San Francisco-based Saildrone will leverage fellow Californian company Palantir’s AI technology to deliver new insights for both manufacturing and maritime intelligence, surveillance, and targeting applications. Saildrone designs, manufactures, and operates Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) that enable maritime domain awareness and operations, with outcomes ranging from reducing drug smuggling and human trafficking to mapping the ocean floor for disaster preparedness.

Saildrone is using Palantir’s Warp Speed AI Platform to transform its production planning process end to end, says Palantir, allowing it to dynamically manage material and production schedules, ranging from fleet management to purchasing and production to demand planning.

Saildrone is also using Warp Speed to deploy innovative AI capabilities to its drones and customers, securely and at speed, Palantir adds.

“As manufacturing processes grow organically in a rapidly evolving startup, numerous, disparate systems are naturally created, delivering onerous workflows that block productivity,” said Richard Jenkins, CEO of Saildrone. “Warp Speed ties all these systems together with one over-arching production planning tool. It’s transformational for Saildrone and our ability to rapidly scale manufacturing with minimum overhead going forwards.”

With more than 70% of Earth’s surface covered by ocean, illegal and nefarious actors routinely go unnoticed because a US or allied asset is not there to see them. To optimize scarce, high-demand manned resources, sharpen strategic focus, and outpace adversaries, the US and its partners urgently need the technology of tomorrow, delivered today, says Saildrone.

“As global threats continue to evolve, we’re seeing rapidly increasing demand for our maritime security solutions,” said Richard Jenkins. “Leveraging Palantir’s sophisticated manufacturing and AI tools will allow us to streamline manufacturing and radically enhance fleet capabilities.”

The Saildrone-Palantir strategic partnership accelerates the deployment of autonomous systems and unlocks advanced AI-driven maritime solutions at scale, says Saildrone.

The company commands the world’s largest fleet of USVs, more than 150 of them in three classes, delivering maritime domain awareness to the US Navy, Department of Homeland Security, and international allies. Powered by cutting-edge, proprietary AI and machine-learning algorithms running at the edge, these autonomous platforms monitor activities above and below the waves, spotting narcotics trafficking, illegal fishing, and even adversary submarines with precision.

Austal USA builds the aluminium hulls for the 20m Surveyor class Saildrone in Alabama, and composite boat builders in Mississippi and Washington State support production of the 10m Voyager class.