Sep 4, 2024 - Technology

Exclusive: Gecko Robotics to expand its U.S. Navy gigs

Colin Demarest

U.S. Navy aircraft carriers glide through the Atlantic Ocean. The water and skies are blue. Clouds are overhead, as well. — U.S. Navy aircraft carriers in the Atlantic last month. Photo: Maxwell Orlosky/DVIDS

Gecko Robotics this fall will begin examining a U.S. aircraft carrier for wear-and-tear using its artificial intelligence-fueled software and fleet of automatons.

Why it matters: High-tech machines promise to streamline the arduous and often inexact task of scouring military hardware for flaws.

Manufacturing and maintenance delays can have a cascading effect, ultimately pinching naval readiness.

Catch up quick: Gecko's robots have crawled across critical infrastructure and warships alike.

The Pennsylvania company late last year was tasked with building a maintenance baseline and inspecting welds for the $132 billion Columbia-class nuclear submarine program.
It raised $173 million in funding around the same time.

Gecko chief executive Jake Loosararian told Axios his team was excited to "grow our partnership with the Navy, around keeping ships in the fight, and increasing the pace of production on the Columbia."

Navy leadership has described the Columbia-class sub as the service's priority.
A company spokesperson declined to name the aircraft carrier it will soon be scrutinizing.

What's next: Hopes are high for predictive maintenance in the military, which relies on specialized parts delivered from across the globe.

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Exclusive: Gecko Robotics to expand its U.S. Navy gigs

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