Unmanned kayaks costing billions?

A local organization in my area that tracks water pollution outfitted several “sampling drone” kayaks with self propulsion systems so they could be remotely guided along river banks where pipes were suspected of discharging contaminants. They had flags on them like the one Paris was bird-dogging. Wonder if that was a similar research “vessel”?

http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-suspends-search-for-owner-of-kayak-near-crystal-beach-texas/2018/08/20/
HOUSTON —The Coast Guard has suspended the search for the owner of an unmanned, beached kayak found in the vicinity of Meynig Drive in Crystal Beach, Texas, pending the development of new information.

Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received notification from the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office at 5:00 a.m. of an orange kayak found in the vicinity of Meynig Drive.

An Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew and a Coast Guard Station 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew were launched to search the area.

Involved in the search were:

Coast Guard Station Galveston 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew
Coast Guard Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew
Galveston County Sheriff’s Office

(sounds expensive) :#