Science

Britain's Royal Navy tests speedy drone boat (pictures)

London's iconic Tower Bridge opened for the MAST unmanned craft's jaunt along the river Thames.

Richard Trenholm

Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.

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Richard Trenholm

Sept. 7, 2016 12:01 p.m. PT

London's historic Tower Bridge opens for the Royal Navy's Maritime Autonomy Surface Testbed (MAST) on Monday. MAST is an unmanned surface vessel designed to test the equipment that will go into drone craft of the future.

The 32-foot (9-meter) vessel is based on the high-speed Bladerunner hull, which lifts a boat partway out of the water for a more efficient ride.

The MAST vehicle is meant to be unmanned, but for this preview, pilots were aboard just in case.

MAST is escorted by an HMS Archer during a preview for the press and public on the River Thames.

MAST will test radar, GPS and other information, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) technology.

The unmanned vessel whizzes past Britain's Houses of Parliament during a test ride on Monday. The Royal Navy would not, however, reveal the craft's maximum speed.