14 U.S.C. § 336: Unmanned system program and autonomous control and computer vision technology project

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish, under the control of the Commandant, an unmanned system program for the use by the Coast Guard of land-based, cutter-based, and aircraft-based unmanned systems for the purpose of increasing effectiveness and efficiency of mission execution. commercially available autonomous control and computer vision technology; and such sensors and methods of communication as are necessary to control, and technology to assist in conducting, search and rescue, surveillance, and interdiction missions. As part of the project required under paragraph (1), the Commandant shall collect and evaluate field-collected operational data from the retrofit described in such paragraph to inform future requirements. Not later than 180 days after the date on which the project required under paragraph (1) is completed, the Commandant shall provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a briefing in person or in writing on the project that includes an evaluation of the data collected from the project. an unmanned aircraft system (as such term is defined in section 44801 of title 49 ); an unmanned marine surface system; and an unmanned marine subsurface system. For the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [ Dec. 18, 2025 ] and ending on the date that is 3 years after such date of enactment, the Commandant [of the Coast Guard], or such other individual or organization as the Commandant considers appropriate, shall develop a training course on small uncrewed maritime systems and offer such training course at least once each year for Coast Guard personnel working with or regulating small uncrewed maritime systems. provide an overview and introduction to small uncrewed maritime systems, including examples of those used by the Federal Government, in academic settings, and in commercial sectors; address the benefits and disadvantages of use of small uncrewed maritime systems; address safe navigation of small uncrewed maritime systems, including measures to ensure collision avoidance; address the ability of small uncrewed maritime systems to communicate with and alert other vessels in the vicinity; address the ability of small uncrewed maritime systems to respond to system alarms and failures to ensure control commensurate with the risk posed by the systems; provide present and future capabilities of small uncrewed maritime systems; and provide an overview of the role of the International Maritime Organization in the governance of small uncrewed maritime systems. are not greater than 35 feet overall in length; are operated remotely or autonomously; and exclusively perform oceanographic surveys or scientific research. means an uncrewed surface, undersea, or aircraft system and associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the uncrewed system) that are required for the operator to operate the system safely and efficiently; and includes an unmanned aircraft system (as such term is defined in section 44801 of title 49 , United States Code).” The Commandant [of the Coast Guard] shall carry out and update, as appropriate, a program for the use of one or more training areas to facilitate the use of unmanned aircraft systems and small unmanned aircraft to support missions of the Coast Guard. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [ Jan. 1, 2021 ], the Commandant shall, as part of the program under subsection (a), designate an area for the training, testing, and development of unmanned aircraft systems and small unmanned aircraft. ensure that such training area has or receives all necessary Federal Aviation Administration flight authorization; and Direct over-water maritime access from the site. The availability of existing Coast Guard support facilities, including pier and dock space. Proximity to existing and available offshore Warning Area airspace for test and training. Existing facilities and infrastructure to support unmanned aircraft system-augmented, and small unmanned aircraft-augmented, training, evaluations, and exercises. Existing facilities with a proven track record of supporting unmanned aircraft systems and small unmanned aircraft systems flight operations. the term ‘existing’ means as of the date of enactment of this Act; and the terms ‘small unmanned aircraft’ and ‘unmanned aircraft system’ have the meanings given those terms in section 44801 of title 49 , United States Code.”