Metal Shark has announced a strategic collaboration with Tocaro Blue to embed ProteusCore Radar processing software into its fleet of High Speed Maneuverable Unmanned Surface Vessels (HSMUSVs).
The integration of this AI-powered technology is designed to enhance Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and operational safety for the U.S. Armed Forces and international allies.
ProteusCore provides operators with advanced radar data fusion, machine learning-based object detection, and classification. By processing data at the edge, the software filters noise and tracks targets in real-time. This capability will be integrated directly into the SharkTech autonomous technology stack, Metal Shark’s proprietary hardware and software-agnostic system that supports unmanned and human-in-the-loop operations.
The HSMUSV is a 21-foot unmanned military craft developed as a low-cost, multi-payload solution. Designed for rapid production and quick fielding to meet emergent defense needs, the platform is factory-equipped with the SharkTech stack, which allows for interfacing with various AI and collision avoidance software packages.
Metal Shark CEO Chris Allard, commented, “The interoperability of the HSMUSV platform and SharkTech autonomy stack have been thoroughly proven this year through participation in multiple exercises on both sides of the Atlantic. By incorporating Tocaro Blue’s ProteusCore™ technology, we’re taking another step toward an intelligent vessel ecosystem, enabling our customers to make faster, data-driven decisions in critical situations.”
The software automates radar utilization for autonomous operations, delivering a unified maritime operating picture intended to improve threat awareness in complex environments. This turns commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) marine radar into a high-performance perception sensor using deep neural networks.
John Minor, CEO of Tocaro Blue, added, “Tocaro Blue designed ProteusCore™ to unlock mission-critical perception capabilities in commercial off the shelf marine radars. We’re excited to team up with an industry leader like Metal Shark to deliver advanced capabilities to our Nation’s unmanned maritime defense assets.”
Metal Shark operates boat building facilities in Louisiana and Alabama, along with a dedicated engineering facility in Croatia. The company produces over 200 welded aluminum vessels annually for military, law enforcement, and commercial operators. Tocaro Blue specializes in AI-powered marine sensor processing, focusing on multi-sensor fusion and real-time data interpretation tools for maritime developers.
