The Royal Navy is conducting a 'robot wars' exercise

The Royal Navy is currently hosting a training exercise it's dubbing'robot wars' off the western coasts of Scotland and Wales. The exercise, officially called Unmanned Warrior (which is an equally cool name), is the first of its kind for the Royal Navy and features more than 50 vehicles, sensors and systems from more than 40 manufacturers of military technology. Royal Navy Commander Peter Pipkin says the "the technologies demonstrated in Unmanned Warrior have the potential to fundamentally change the future of Royal Navy operations just as the advent of steam propulsion or submarines did." Despite the focus on automation he also offers assurance that the intention is not to "take people out of the loop", but rather to "enhance" what they do and extend our "reach and efficiency using intelligent robotics at sea." Military ranges and sites in Benbecula, Kyle of Lochalsh and off Applecross are being used for the robot wars, which will see autonomous military technology being tested not only on the surface of the sea, but underwater and in the air, too, until October 20. BAE Systems, whose Pacific Class 950 Unmanned Rigid Inflatable Boat is taking part in the exercise, has called the event the world's first large-scale demonstration of "innovative maritime robotic systems."