NOAA today announced a 10-year agreement with the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography to improve how unmanned systems are used to collect ocean observations and support NOAA’s operational capabilities. NOAA also noted that the agreement will help meet objectives of the Commercial Engagement Through Ocean Technology Act of 2018, including coordination of research and assessment of acquisition of unmanned marine systems.
Assistant Sec. of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Deputy NOAA Admin. Tim Gallaudet said that the partnership “will lead to exciting results in the field of unmanned systems,” adding that “[i]nnovative use of unmanned systems will benefit many NOAA programs—augmenting data collection often at a lower cost, increased safety, and reduced risk, especially in remote or extreme environments.”
UC San Diego Vice Chancellor for Marine Sciences and Scripps Institution of Oceanography Margaret Leinen said that “[u]nmanned systems allow us to observe the ocean more regularly and at a greater scale,” adding that “[w]e are excited to expand our collaboration with NOAA on rapidly advancing unmanned systems.”
