AutoNaut Partners with NOC Marine Robotics Innovation Centre
AutoNaut has become a partner of the Marine Robotics Innovation Centre of the UK's National Oceanography Centre (NOC). AutoNaut and NOC have enjoyed a long-term relationship since 2013 and this move is a sign of the company’s increasing ambitions. NOC first worked with AutoNaut (then trading as MOST AV) in 2013 on a government-backed Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition. Following the success of this competition, NOC purchased an AutoNaut vehicle, which now sits as part of its fleet.
In 2014 the vehicle’s maiden voyage for the NOC was the participation in Europe’s largest single deployment of surface and submarine autonomous vehicles for the MASSMO (Marine Autonomous Systems in Support of Marine Observations) project. The NOC’s AutoNaut, Gordon, weathered Atlantic storms whilst successfully collecting a range of oceanography and acoustic data, whilst tracking birds and fish with cameras and hydrophones.
Recent investment from the Seiche Group has enabled AutoNaut to expand manufacturing facilities and engineering expertise as well as recruit several new members of staff. A desk in the innovation centre will be utilised by AutoNaut Ltd technical and business development personnel to work alongside the NOC’s marine autonomy and robotics team.