Welcome Aboard: Bryan Clarke

Welcome Aboard: Bryan Clarke Joins Mission Systems as Maritime Autonomy Lead

Dr Bryan Clarke - Maritime Autonomy Lead

At Mission Systems, our work sits at the intersection of advanced engineering and real-world impact. Every decision we make — from the systems we build to the people we bring on board — is driven by our mission to push maritime autonomy into the future. That’s why we’re delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Bryan Clarke as our new Maritime Autonomy Lead.

With a wealth of expertise in autonomy, robotics, radar systems, and AI implementation, Bryan’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for our underwater capability development — especially as we expand the potential of platforms like the Bluefin 21.

A Multidisciplinary Background in Real-World Autonomy

Bryan brings a unique blend of academic rigour and hands-on engineering experience. His journey began at the University of New South Wales, where he earned a double degree in Mechatronic Engineering and Computer Science. That foundation laid the groundwork for a PhD focused on millimetre-wave radar for large vehicle collision avoidance — a space where precision, reliability, and complexity converge.

From there, Bryan pivoted to underwater robotics, spending seven years at DST Group (Defence Science and Technology), Australia’s national science agency. There, he worked on autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) designed for complex marine environments — and was introduced to the systems thinking and multidisciplinary challenges that now define much of his approach.

In more recent years, Bryan has applied his skills in industry, developing AI-powered safety systems for heavy industrial machinery — including earthmovers, forklifts, and construction equipment. These projects combined real-time sensor data, safety protocols, and computer vision to keep people safe in high-risk operational settings.

Now, as he returns to the underwater domain with Mission Systems, Bryan is more equipped than ever to tackle the unique challenges of maritime autonomy — and lead the development of next-generation systems.

Driving the Bluefin 21 (and Beyond)

Bryan’s primary focus at Mission Systems will be leading the integration, configuration, and autonomy development for the Bluefin 21 — a large commercial-grade autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The platform arrives with significant capability but also plenty of opportunity for innovation.

“We’re not building it from scratch, but we are taking it further,” Bryan explains. “It comes with a base set of tools and behaviours, but our job is to make it smarter — to develop autonomy that’s truly mission-aware and adaptive.”

From physical reassembly and sensor integration to software development and simulation testing, Bryan is overseeing the full lifecycle of Bluefin’s operational rollout. His team is using MOOS-IvP, a powerful open-source autonomy framework developed at MIT, to develop behaviours, design efficient communication protocols, and ensure robust coordination in dynamic environments.

One of Bryan’s key ambitions is to move beyond single-vehicle autonomy to explore collaborative autonomy — enabling multiple AUVs (and potentially other unmanned systems) to share tasks, adjust behaviours in real-time, and operate as cohesive units.

“It’s not just about one robot doing its job,” he says. “It’s about how a fleet of autonomous systems can work together — underwater, on the surface, and in the air — sharing information and making collective decisions based on live data.”

Technical Vision Meets Practical Grounding

While Bryan has worked with cutting-edge technologies throughout his career, what makes his leadership so valuable is his clear-eyed view of how autonomy must work in the real world.

“AI is often treated like a magic word,” he says. “But when you’re trying to run an autonomous system in the ocean — with limited comms, changing currents, and no second chances — what matters most is not the hype, but the robustness of your algorithms and the quality of your systems integration.”

His focus lies in making autonomy dependable, flexible, and field-ready — something that requires a delicate balance of simulation, modular hardware, smart behaviours, and fallback planning.

What’s Next?

As the Bluefin 21 begins its rollout — starting with integration and simulation, followed by local testing and eventual deployment in more expansive water spaces — Bryan and the team are laying a foundation for much more than a single project.

In the coming years, Mission Systems will continue exploring interoperable architectures, open standards, and modular payloads that extend the capability of autonomous systems in both defence and commercial applications. Bryan’s appointment signals our intent to lead this space — not just in terms of technology, but in terms of vision, collaboration, and delivery.

“We’re building for today’s missions,” Bryan says, “but we’re designing for what’s coming five years from now.”

We’re thrilled to have him onboard.

Read our full interview with Bryan Clarke here