Systems and methods for autonomous selection and operation of combinations of stealth and performance capabilities of a multi-mode unmanned vehicle

An unmanned vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body comprising a pair of substantially parallel sponsons;
• a propulsion system carried by the vehicle body;
• a maneuvering system carried by the vehicle body;
• a vehicle control system carried by the vehicle body to control a speed, an orientation, and a direction of travel of the unmanned vehicle in combination with the propulsion system and the maneuvering system;
• a rack carried by the vehicle body comprising a retractable mount configured to move between a down position and an up position;
• a sensor system carried by the rack and comprising a plurality of transient object detection sensors to sense transient objects in an environment of unmanned vehicle;
• and
• a power supply carried by the vehicle body;
• wherein the plurality of transient object detection sensors of the sensor system at least include a sensor adapted to detect an item of interest and provide an item of interest signal to the vehicle control system;
• wherein the vehicle control system is adapted to receive the item of interest signal, identify an item of interest classification and provide a classification signal;
• wherein the classification signal is determined by the item of interest classification and is utilized by the propulsion system, maneuvering system, vehicle control system, or retractable mount to avoid physical, electrical, acoustic, or thermal detection of the unmanned vehicle by the item of interest.