Residents will be afforded an opportunity to visit a unique U.S Navy research facility between Friday and Sunday when the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego) hosts its 10th International Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Competition.
The competition will be held in the Transducer Evaluation Center (TRANSDEC) pool. With a controlled environment that simulates an ocean of water, the pool provides ideal conditions for research. It is usually closed to the public.
Ed Budzyna from the public affairs office of the SSC San Diego said the facility is proud to host the competition for the sixth year in a row.
This year, the 28 teams participating come from the United States, Canada, Japan and India. The goals of the competition, as stated in the 2007 mission statement, are to advance the art of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) by challenging young engineers to perform realistic missions underwater and to foster ties between the new generation of engineers and the organizations that develop AUV technologies.
Over the weekend, the teams will prepare their robotic vehicles to follow a special course that requires precise maneuvers and perform certain tasks underwater autonomously.
“Once the vehicle is put underwater, it’s by itself. There is no remote or anything,” Budzyna said.
Visitors can stop by the tents and see the teams working.
“It is an engineering event, so it will be methodically quiet. But the teams are excited,” Budzyna said. “It is exciting to see students “” some are high school students “” pushing the whole art of autonomous vehicles. It is uplifting.”
Sponsors of the competition are the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR).
The SSC San Diego will also have an exhibit with demonstrations of current military robotic technology.
The event is free and open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, July 13 and 14, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 15. There will be signs directing attendees to parking south on Catalina Boulevard toward Cabrillo National Monument.
For more information, visit auvsi.org/competitions/water.cfm or spawar.navy.mil/sandiego.