Japan: JAMSTEC Invites Public to Submit Names for New Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

JAMSTEC invites the public to submit names for the new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), which is currently being developed and constructed at JAMSTEC. The naming contest is designed to enhance public understanding of the development of the new AUV and its importance in facilitating underwater research and exploration.

Submission guidelines:

1. The AUV is an unmanned autonomous underwater vehicle. Construction is taking place and scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2012.

2. All submissions should be sent between Thursday, September 15th and Wednesday, November 30th, 2011.

3. From October 1st, all entries will be made available online for public voting. A selection committee, consisting of JAMSTEC staff and experts from research areas, will decide on the winning name, taking the public vote into consideration.

4. Eligible entries

(1) The name must be appropriate for the AUV, and portray an image of opening up a new era in marine research and development in Japan.

(2) The name must be original and shouldn’t conflict with names of other underwater robots or submersibles.

(3) The winning name is due to be announced in late December 2011.

(4) Those who entered or voted for the winning name will be awarded prizes (JAMSTEC original goods) by draw. Winners will receive the prize without prior announcement.

*Submissions from overseas may not be included in the draw.

5. The name’s author

Among the winners, one winner will be chosen as the author of the name. With the author’s consent, his or her name may be referred to in the future promotion of the AUV.

– The AUV is preprogrammed to perform surveys along the seafloor. It is able to determine its own location and to cruise safely over rough surfaces of the seafloor.

– Fore and aft X-ladders enable easy changes in direction and keep the AUV on course regardless of the current.

– Acoustic signals transmitted by the AUV and reflected from the seafloor provide information on the seafloor topography and sub-bottom structure. The collected data will be used for detailed surveys using other seafloor explorers.

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Source: JAMSTEC, September 29, 2011