Portchester company to unveil the world's first self-landing drone at navy's '˜Robot Wars'

BAE Systems' unmanned RIB which will be used by the Royal Navy Picture: BAE Systems

ASV, based in Southampton Road, has been helping to develop the Autoland, alongside another Hampshire-based company Roke Manor Research.

The state-of-the-art system will be put to the test at the Royal Navy’s Unmanned Warrior 2016, in October.

Autoland uses cameras and modelling so that a UAV can self-land without the need for human assistance or additional technology.

Roke Manor Research of Romsey has created the worlds first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of landing itself on a moving ship using vision technology

The device is among an array of machines competing in their very own version of Robot Wars off the coast of Scotland to prove they could be part of the navy’s future.

The aim is to recreate military scenarios to test the machines’ capabilities – including anti-submarine warfare, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Navy boss Admiral Sir Philip Jones said: ‘The growing scale of Unmanned Warrior is a clear demonstration of the Royal Navy’s ambition to lead and win through technological innovation.

Unmanned Warrior will feature vehicles that fly along with those that move across the surface, or under water.

Among those to attend will include BAE Systems.

The defence giant will showcase its combat systems as well as its P950 Unmanned and P24 Optionally Manned rigid inflatable boats – both developed in collaboration with ASV.

‘What we are seeking to achieve is an event that reshapes the market to provide new opportunities for everybody, and capability transformation for the navy,’ added Commander Peter Pipkin.