Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Showcase 2002

From 25-26 September the 4th Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Showcase (UUVS) was held by Spearhead Exhibitions at the Southampton Oceanography Centre (SOC). The event was attended by almost 500 visitors and about 50 exhibitors originating from nine countries showed their products and services. At the conference, 22 papers were presented to an audience of up to 150 delegates.

This was the fourth time the event is organised by Spearhead Exhibition and the event is growing every year. Originally the event was held every other year but due to its popularity the UUVS will now become an annual gathering for the industry.

Conference
The UUVS Conference was very successful with some 22 papers being delivered by some of the industry’s leading persons and companies. Some 125 delegates packed in to the lecture hall Ð often with standing room only. Highlights of the programme included Andy Hill of BP’s Upstream Technology Group providing his vision of what the BP sub-sea engineer might expect from an AUV in the medium to long term in the survey, inspection and intervention classes. Jim Mann of Oceaneering International Services provided a typically forthright and frank, but ultimately upbeat, assessment of the prospects for the long-term success of work class AUVs. Plus, the internationally renowned Professor Tamaki Ura of the University of Tokyo provided an update on the development of R2D4, a pioneering AUV designed to explore hydro-thermal ventic zones. Conference delegates resoundingly approved of the programme which was formulated by a committee of experts chaired by Cliff Funnell supported by Ian Gallet of the Society for Underwater Technology.

Exhibition
Besides the conference, an exhibition was held in the building of the SOC. Exhibitors were drawn from survey and offshore inspection companies, manufacturers of AUVs/ROVs themselves and sub-contractors of component parts. It is impossible to give you a complete overview but I would like to give you some highlights. From the tiny island of Guernsey, Marine Electronics was present at the show. They design and manufacture underwater sonar, acoustic instruments and systems. Ultra Electronics showed their acoustic measurement systems for ships, submarines and AUVs. ECA, from France, was present with their newest AUV ALISTAR, which is designed to carry out missions of deep and ultra-deep water monitoring and inspection. To get a more comprehensive overview of the products and services presented at the show, please visit www.uuvs.net. Most of the players in the international industry were present, but to my surprise some of the bigger manufacturers of AUVs/ ROVs were missing. I wonder why.

Social Programme
More than 120 guests enjoyed the hospitality of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club on the opening night of UUVS 2002. Qinetiq generously sponsored the dinner and the after-dinner speaker was Bob Barton, who gave his view of the history, present and future of this evolving industry.

Next Year
The 4th UUVS was a very successful event. It is clear that the technology and development of AUVs/ROVs is becoming more and more important within the hydrographic industry. Increasingly these technologies are being used for commercial projects and not just for military purposes. The 5th
UUVS will be held in the Southampton Oceanography Centre from 24th-25th September 2003. New for 2003 will be Technical Masterclass Sessions.