US Navy taps Zelim to trial AI-driven uncrewed vessel detection

August 22, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

AI technology company Zelim has signed a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with the US Navy’s Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC), Division Newport, to trial its detection system for uncrewed surface vessels (USVs).

As disclosed, the agreement enables Zelim’s participation in BlueTIDE 2025, a demonstration event led by 401 Tech Bridge, NavalX, and the Northeast Tech Bridge. The event will culminate in a full-scale in-water trial on August 28 in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.

This year’s mission scenario focuses on protecting critical subsea infrastructure from hostile activity involving small crewed and uncrewed autonomous systems.

Zelim’s role in the scenario involves detecting small remotely operated surface vessels operating covertly in sensitive areas, which may pose a precursor threat to subsurface sabotage.

ZOE MOB system is already deployed in the cruise industry and offshore sector, detecting, alerting, and tracking persons in the water following man overboard incidents. The same AI engine, trained to identify specific shapes, behaviours, and anomalies in complex marine environments, also powers ZOE Shield – a new capability under development that delivers maritime situational awareness by detecting and classifying small surface craft that will be operating without AIS.

According to the company, ZOE Shield adds automated threat classification and alerting logic, supporting operators with early warning and response capabilities. The system is immune to GPS denial and radar jamming scenarios, which can disrupt traditional situational awareness technology.

The ZOE Shield system will be evaluated during BlueTIDE as part of the Navy’s interest in layered, intelligent safety, security, and surveillance.

“This agreement gives us a unique opportunity to trial ZOE Shield in an operational defence scenario at a US Navy facility, where multiple assets, including USVs will be deployed on the mission,” said Sam Mayall, CEO and co-founder of Zelim.

The BlueTIDE trial will take place off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island, where ZOE will be used to detect and to keep eyes on surface threats as they come within proximity of the critical infrastructure.

Zelim noted that the goal is to demonstrate how ZOE can improve reaction time and situational awareness in areas where traditional radar or human watchkeeping might miss or misclassify an approaching threat.

Finally, data from the demonstration will be shared with the US Navy to support capability assessment and further development.

“This is about closing the gap between detection and decision, especially in domains where the threat is small, fast-moving and unpredictable,” Mayall added.

“Our mission is to help operators identify anomalous behaviour earlier, whether the goal is rescue or protection. This demo is a vital step toward deploying ZOE for real-world defence scenarios,” it was concluded.