Marine Autonomy Challenge 2020 - Finalists revealed!

The Marine Autonomy Challenge 2020 aims to bring together the country’s future technology innovators to build, share, and distribute knowledge, and collaboratively develop solutions to one the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges – Ocean Plastics – and then to test those solutions for real in a battle for the top prize and recognition by UK industry’s leading maritime technology firms.

This University technical challenge has been issued by the Maritime Autonomous Systems Group Council of the Society of Maritime Industries to teams of undergraduate students at Universities across the UK.  A strong field of entries has responded, each submitting a Video Application in a Dragon’s Den style pitch.  After a rigorous selection process, five teams have made it through to compete in the final, on-water competition at Calshot Outdoor Activities Centre over the weekend of the 19-21 June 2020.

The finalists for this year’s competition are teams from:

• University of Birmingham
• University of Cambridge
• University Centre South Devon
• University of Newcastle
• University of West of England

Geraint West, Chairman of the organising committee and Global Business Manager at Sonardyne International said:

“ I am delighted to announce the finalists for this year’s MA Challenge Competition. With a strong field of entries from Universities across the UK, the competition for places in the final was tough.  We were very impressed by the quality of entries and are now looking forward to an exciting and equally tough competition on the water in June.”

The MAChallenge is supported by the National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton and Steatite Batteries, with sponsorship from the following members of the Society of Maritime Industries:

Congratulations to the finalists – we are looking forward to a great event in June and our commiserations go out to those teams that were unsuccessful – we hope to see you next year.

About:

Maritime Autonomous Systems (MAS) are of increasing importance to a wide range of sectors, including marine science, offshore resource exploitation, maritime transport and defence and maritime security operations.  The UK is a technology leader in this area and the Maritime Autonomous Systems Group (MASG) Council of the Society of Maritime Industries (SMI) aims to enhance this reputation and encourage development and take-up of MAS technologies in the UK.  The Maritime Autonomous Systems Group (MASG) Council sets the policy and guides the activities for this market area, utilising the extensive expertise of its council members.