Rhode Island-based Vatn Systems has made a strategic move by acquiring Crewless Marine, located in Warren. This acquisition aims to bolster Vatn’s capabilities in underwater acoustic sensing and signal processing, which are crucial for enhancing its autonomous undersea platforms.
The integration of Crewless Marine will enable Vatn to modernize its core components, thereby reducing its dependence on external suppliers. This shift is expected to lower costs significantly while simultaneously improving performance across its product line. Vatn, headquartered in Bristol, specializes in manufacturing torpedo-like unmanned underwater vehicles tailored for both military and commercial applications.
Crewless Marine brings specialized expertise in acoustic systems, hydrophone manufacturing, and real-time signal processing. The company is currently engaged in a contract with the U.S. Navy that focuses on AI-enabled multi-sensor target localization, demonstrating its advanced capabilities in the rapidly evolving field of underwater technology.
Nelson Mills, CEO and co-founder of Vatn, emphasized the importance of acoustic sensing in the realm of undersea warfare, stating that possessing this technology in-house allows Vatn to enhance its mission while positioning the company for growth in the harbor defense and environmental monitoring sectors.
With the acquisition, Crewless Marine co-founders Steven Bordonaro and Philip Caspers will take on key roles within Vatn. Bordonaro will assume the position of chief engineer for systems, while Caspers will become the director of acoustics. The duo brings with them over 30 years of experience in acoustic signal processing, including Bordonaro’s notable leadership roles at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, where he was instrumental in developing torpedo guidance and control systems.
Expressing enthusiasm about the merger, Bordonaro stated, “Joining Vatn allows us to scale the technologies we’ve spent our careers developing and bring them to a broader set of missions.” He further remarked on the exciting possibilities that lie ahead in advancing acoustic sensing and capabilities in undersea warfare through this collaboration.
