Louisiana-based boat builder Metal Shark has entered a strategic collaboration with Tocaro Blue to integrate advanced radar processing software into its fleet of High Speed Maneuverable Unmanned Surface Vessels (HSMUSV).
The partnership focuses on embedding Tocaro Blue’s ProteusCore system into Metal Shark’s proprietary SharkTech autonomous technology stack. This software provides operators with radar data fusion, machine learning-based object detection, and classification capabilities. By processing data at the edge, the system improves real-time target tracking and situational awareness for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
The HSMUSV is a 21-foot military craft designed as a low-cost, multi-payload solution for the US Armed Forces and international allies. Produced by Metal Shark, which employs over 400 people across facilities in Louisiana, Alabama, and Croatia, the vessel is built for rapid production and fielding. The SharkTech stack within these vessels is a hardware-agnostic system that supports human-in-the-loop operations and interfaces with various AI and automated target recognition software packages.
Chris Allard, CEO of Metal Shark, commented, “The interoperability of the HSMUSV platform and SharkTech autonomy stack have been thoroughly proven this year through participation in multiple exercises on both sides of the Atlantic. By incorporating Tocaro Blue’s ProteusCore™ technology, we’re taking another step toward an intelligent vessel ecosystem, enabling our customers to make faster, data-driven decisions in critical situations.”
ProteusCore is designed to automate radar usage for autonomous operations by using deep neural networks to filter noise and interpret data from commercial off-the-shelf marine radars. This integration creates a unified operating picture intended to improve threat awareness in complex maritime environments.
John Minor, CEO of Tocaro Blue, added, “Tocaro Blue designed ProteusCore™ to unlock mission-critical perception capabilities in commercial off the shelf marine radars. We’re excited to team up with an industry leader like Metal Shark to deliver advanced capabilities to our Nation’s unmanned maritime defense assets.”
Metal Shark currently produces over 200 welded aluminum vessels annually for military, law enforcement, and commercial clients. The addition of Tocaro Blue’s sensor processing toolset is intended to simplify the interpretation of complex marine radar data, turning standard sensors into high-fidelity perception tools for the HSMUSV fleet.
