More unmanned Chinese ships are expected to be deployed to domestic and international waters including the South China Sea and the Antarctic for oceanic survey and patrol missions, state media has reported.

Founded in 2010, the Research Institute of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) Engineering at Shanghai University, which is also China's first USV development institute, has been providing a series of independently designed unmanned ships coded “Jinghai,” Xinhua News Agency reported.

In 2013, Jinghai 1 helped to conduct an oceanic and geological survey of Xisha and Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, while Jinghai 2 traveled with Chinese icebreaker Xuelong to Antarctica in 2014 to help with underwater detection and mapping, according to Xinhua. Research and development of Jinghai 7 is currently underway.

Additional unmanned ships could shoulder more responsibilities in the near future, including surveying and mapping coastal areas, maritime search and rescue, offshore patrol, anti-smuggling and sea route protection. Experts also noted that the ships could participate in more missions near ports and oil drilling rigs, according to Xinhua.

Apart from Shanghai University, several other universities and institutes under China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have also joined the USV research and development process, Xinhua noted.