The US Navy has increased the maximum value of its contract with Gecko Robotics, which uses AI-powered robots to assess the technical condition of ships, from $71 million to $300 million, Fox News reported on Tuesday.

This move comes just six months after the initial announcement of a $71 million commitment, which at the time covered inspections of 18 Pacific Fleet vessels.

The Navy is seeking to boost fleet readiness amid a widening gap between the United States and China in shipbuilding pace, the broadcaster reported.

According to the report, Gecko said its technology can save up to $8 million in repair costs per ship and identify problem areas up to 50 times faster than traditional inspection methods. The system uses robots that traverse ship surfaces to detect defects, as well as aerial drones. The manufacturer says these tools locate flaws more quickly and accurately than human inspectors. The technology can scan through paint, eliminating the need to remove it to uncover underlying issues.

@Sputnik