Stratom awarded Navy contract for autonomous refueling system

A view taken from onboard the US Navy (USN) Cyclone Class Coastal Defense Ship, USS HURRICANE (PC 3), showing as a trailing refueling line being extended from the USN Oliver Hazard Perry Class: Guided Missile Frigate, USS JOHN H. SIDES (FFG 14), as the two ships conduct Replenishment At Sea (RAS) operations while underway in the Pacific Ocean participating in a Coordination Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Exercise, while executing the first trans-Pacific cruise of a Patrol Forces boat.

A view taken from onboard the Cyclone class coastal defense ship USS Hurricane (PC 3), showing a trailing refueling line being extended from the USN Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate, USS John H. Sides. | Credit: U.S. Navy

As the U.S. Navy expands its fleet of uncrewed surface vehicles, or USVs, it has chosen Stratom Inc. for a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research contract to develop an autonomous refueling system that the company claimed could redefine naval refueling and logistics at sea.

Under the contract, Stratom is developing autonomous refueling systems for naval logistics and operations. The Louisville, Colo.-based company has designed the Deployable Onboard Refueling Interface, or DORI, to refuel USVs refuel without human intervention.

“Autonomous refueling is truly a force multiplier — and the next step toward a fully autonomous maritime force,” said Mark Gordon, CEO of Stratom. “With DORI, we’re engineering a practical, scalable way for uncrewed vessels to stay on mission longer, without relying on vulnerable crewed interventions.”

Stratom said it has has designed RAPID, an autonomous refueling, recharging, and liquid-transfer platform for ground robots and aircraft refueling, to operate in extreme environments such as a battlefield to refuel aircraft or trucks. The company asserted that it proves the value of automating complex fueling operations through increased uptime, reduced labor demands, and enhanced safety.

Stratom was honored with an RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award in 2023 for RAPID. Gordon appeared on Episode 154 of The Robot Report Podcast, where he provided an update on Stratom’s roadmap.

DORI enables safe automated USV refueling

Building on existing naval refueling infrastructure while introducing targeted automation, Stratom said its DORI system integrates a hose-retrieval system, sensors, an automated reel mechanism, and a quick-release coupling for emergency disconnects.

By enabling USVs to safely and reliably refuel while underway without human intervention, the system will extend operational endurance, reduce personnel risk, and increase mission flexibility in contested or distributed environments, the company said.

The Phase I effort will validate the technical feasibility of the system’s reel mechanism and include concept refinement, small-scale prototyping, trade studies, and integration of commercial bunkering best practices. These activities will ensure the proposed method is technically feasible and aligned with operational requirements, according to Stratom.

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Stratom sets course for commercialization

Stratom said it has successfully transitioned robotic refueling systems developed for the Army and Navy into commercial applications. It also said there is strong potential for dual-use deployment of DORI in ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering, a key refueling process in commercial shipping and global maritime logistics.

Automating STS bunkering could reduce high-traffic port congestion, improve safety, and cut operating costs for long-haul shipping fleets, said Stratom.

The company’s portfolio includes autonomous cargo movement, robotic refueling, robotic hazardous liquid transfer, and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Stratom noted that it is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business with expertise in research and development, engineering, and autonomous systems integration. is the go-to expert for global corporations, local businesses and government institutions.