Oceanographers have driven the widespread use and acceptance of robotic and autonomous systems in the marine environment. These platforms transform our monitoring capability through autonomous, adaptive and persistent observations from the sea surface to the deepest depths and furthest reaches of the oceans.
The scientific community have broad access to Marine Autonomous Systems platforms, sensors and networks. The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) supports the Marine Autonomous and Robotic Systems (MARS) fleet at the National Oceanography Centre, and NERC-funded scientists have access to support world class oceanography.
The MARS fleet is one of the largest and most advanced in the world, having benefited from a £10 million investment as part of the UK Government’s ‘Eight Great Technologies’ initiative, and £16 million from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. Key to its success are the 45 engineers and technologists that develop, maintain, and operate the vehicles.
