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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers evaluated Ocean Power Technologies’ WAM-V 8, a small unmanned surface vessel, in surf-zone conditions at its Field Research Facility in Duck, North Carolina. The weeklong demonstration focused on whether the craft and its sensors could help map nearshore depths and detect submerged hazards. Public announcements describe the evaluation’s aims, but do not report detailed performance results or an Army purchase.
What is the Army testing in breaking waves?
The evaluation took place at the Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Field Research Facility in Duck, North Carolina. Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) said on September 9, 2026, that ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory hosted a weeklong demonstration of its WAM-V 8.
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The stated scope included operating through surf zones, breaking waves, currents and coastal inlets, while assessing bathymetric mapping and submerged-hazard detection technologies. The practical aim is to gather information about nearshore depths and hazards that can help support safer vessel transit, including civil works and logistics over the shore. That is a proposed use, not evidence that the Army has deployed or acquired the craft. OPT’s September 9 announcement outlines the demonstration.
Can an unmanned boat map a dangerous surf zone?
Potentially, if the vehicle can operate reliably in those conditions and carry sensors that collect useful data. The WAM-V 8 is a surface vessel, not an underwater drone: it travels on the water while equipment mounted aboard can survey the water below. OPT lists hydrographic surveying, marine data collection and mine-countermeasure work among possible applications, but those are vendor-described uses—not proof that each mission was part of this evaluation.
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OPT describes the WAM-V’s articulating suspension and compliant, inflatable hulls as features intended to reduce payload motion and structural loading in waves. That is the design rationale; public information does not establish how well those features performed in the Army Corps demonstration.
What are the WAM-V 8’s specifications?
The figures below are OPT’s published product specifications, not measurements reported from the Army evaluation. The announcement does not identify which optional sensors, if any, were installed for the demonstration. OPT’s WAM-V 8 product page lists the following:
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| Specification | Manufacturer-listed value |
|---|---|
| Length | 8 ft (2.7 m) |
| Beam | 4 ft (1.2 m) |
| Draft | 4 in (10 cm) |
| Maximum speed | Up to 6 kn |
| Lightship weight | 340 lb (156.5 kg) |
| Maximum payload | Up to 100 lb (45 kg) |
| Endurance | Up to 10 hours at 3 kn |
| Power | Lithium-ion batteries and two 1,100 W electric motors |
OPT lists GPS waypoint navigation, rugged GPS/INS, short-range radio, an encrypted wireless network, control systems and a 180-degree field-of-view camera as standard equipment. Optional equipment includes a retractable sensor mount, multibeam sonar, a sub-bottom profiler, an AIS transceiver and an onboard survey workstation.
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Could a small USV find shallow-water hazards before boats approach?
That is one of the potential benefits the evaluation was intended to explore: collecting depth and hazard information in coastal areas that may be difficult or risky for conventional vessels and personnel to access. A four-inch listed draft may suit shallow water, but the specification alone does not show that the WAM-V 8 detected hazards, produced accurate maps or could safely complete a particular mission.
The evaluation’s stated dimensions included sensor performance, vehicle configuration, deployment methods, design improvements, operational considerations and safety. OPT’s September 18 update says the work generated data and operational insights to inform development of its larger 16- and 22-foot platforms and sensor integration. It does not publish numerical results. OPT’s September 18 update describes those evaluation topics.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does the demonstration mean the Army will buy the WAM-V 8?
No procurement outcome is established by the available announcements. A demonstration or evaluation is not the same as acceptance, selection or a contract award. The public information reviewed does not provide detailed trial results or show that the Army purchased the WAM-V 8.
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