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Michigan Technological University’s Great Lakes Research Center was the site for the unveiling of the Maritime Autonomy Research Site (MARS)–the first freshwater testbed of its kind in the world–Friday, Aug. 10.
The unveiling of MARS was held in conjunction with the launch of the Smart Ships Coalition, designed to study and set ground rules for the use of autonomous marine vehicles on the Great Lakes. The coalition is made up of scientists, policy makers, resource managers, innovators, navigators and educators that share a common interest in the advancement of autonomous technologies in marine environments.
Representatives of many of the coalition’s partners were on hand for Friday’s launch ceremony, hosted by Guy Meadows, director of the Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC). Meadows said autonomous marine vehicles are the future and “we get to set the future.”
U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman said, “This center puts us on the cutting edge. And if you’re not on the cutting edge, you’re behind.”
Among the coalition’s partner organizations is the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Governors and Premieres, chaired by Governor Rick Snyder. The group’s Executive Director David Naftzger said, “Shipping will look different in 25 years. Largely because of the work done here.”
Read the full story at mtu.edu/news.
