Coast Guard to deploy autonomous saildrones on Great Lakes

US Coast Guard launches hybrid autonomous Saildrones for lake patrols

The U.S. Coast Guard will deploy autonomous surface drones across the Great Lakes from May through October to strengthen maritime surveillance and emergency response operations. The deployment marks one of the service’s latest steps toward integrating unmanned systems into everyday missions. The wind- and solar-powered vessels, built by Saildrone, will patrol more than 90,000 square miles of interconnected waterways and international shipping ro…

Coast Guard to deploy autonomous saildrones on Great Lakes

The vessels will be deployed this year from May through October to expand maritime surveillance and data collection.

Coast Guard to deploy drones on the Great Lakes

The unmanned vessels, which are powered by wind and solar energy, will be used to gather weather data and monitor the Great Lakes for illegal activity.

Great Lakes Mapping: NOAA Ship Returns for First Time Since 2022, First Surveys Since 40s Begin

Cleveland, OH – A major federal mapping effort is underway across the Great Lakes this week as the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson returns to service in the region for the first time since 2022, focusing on critical waters in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. According to NOAA, the vessel and its crew are surveying western and central Lake Erie and eastern Lake Ontario to improve...

Coast Guard Introduces Autonomous Drones for Great Lakes Research - The St. Ignace News

The U.S. Coast Guard will deploy autonomous drones this summer. (Saildrone/Courtesy Photo) The Great Lakes District of the U.S. Coast Guard plans to deploy autonomous drones this summer. The dr... You must be an online subscriber to view this story. If you are able to login but not view the story, your subscription has most likely expired and you should renew. Full versions of news stories and archives are available to online subscribers only. …

Coast Guard Set to Use Autonomous Sail Drones

MAY 6, 2026 – Leveraging a contract awarded by the Coast Guard to enhance maritime domain awareness, the Great Lakes District will deploy autonomous drones to support Coast Guard missions on the Great Lakes from May to October. The drones are wind- and solar-powered vessels the Coast Guard will use to monitor the Great Lakes, gather critical weather data for emergency response planning, track illicit activity and keep maritime borders safe. The …