Navy Deploys Wall-Climbing AI Robots to Cut Ship Repairs
Gecko Robotics will outfit 18 Pacific Fleet ships with wall-climbing AI inspection robots under a five-year, up-to-$71 million contract (initial award up to $54 million) to scan hulls, decks and welds for corrosion and fatigue, automating data collection to flag defects early and reduce maintenance delays as the Navy targets 80% fleet readiness by 2027 amid China’s expanding naval power.