Autonomy trades crew cost for computing and cyber risk

Does the automation joke in Stingray's 'Deep Heat' resemble enthusiasm for uncrewed naval vessels?

Yes. Removing operators shifts demands into handling unexpected events, onboard computing, software updates, and protecting remote links.

The Stingray comparison leads into the limits of replacing people with autonomous systems. Driverless trains are easier to envisage in a controlled underground system than on exposed surface lines where traffic, accidents, and weather introduce unexpected events. A ship at sea likewise needs rapid responses and substantial onboard computing. Running a trained model on small hardware may be too slow for the task, while retraining and distributing updates adds support work. Remote updates create a communications path an opponent may try to exploit. Removing crew can therefore shift cost and risk into computing and cybersecurity.