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Next-Generation Maritime Autonomy: Uncrewed Maritime Systems Across Surface and Undersea Environments
Join the MTS Uncrewed Maritime Systems Committee, in partnership with the MTS DC Section and the MTS Bio-Inspired Technologies Committee for a two and a half day TechSurge. This TechSurge will feature a carefully curated, single-track program focused on three core technical areas: Vehicles, Sensors, and Data. The agenda will include plenary speakers, moderated panel discussions, and contributed talks selected through a call for abstracts.
Date: October 6-8, 2026
Location: Crowne Plaza Crystal City, 1480 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202
Goals and Objectives
This event is designed to:
- Connect platform developers, sensor innovators, data users, and end users to foster integrated system-level thinking.
- Highlight dual-use and dual-domain technologies that operate across undersea and surface environments.
- Showcase real-world deployments and operational lessons learned through storytelling-focused case studies.
Program
Day 1: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 - kick off 1pm
Evening no-host social at Water Park
Day 2: Wednesday, October 7, 2026 - full day of talks 8am to 5pm
Day 3: Thursday, October 8, 2026 - morning program from 8am to 12pm
Boxed lunch provided ahead of busing to the MTS/Oceaneering Symposium*
Program Highlights: Featured Panel Discussions
Please note: Panel letters are for reference only and do not reflect the conference schedule. Session dates and times will be announced when the full program is released.
Panel A: Global Partnerships in Cross-Domain Maritime Autonomy
As crewed platforms face bandwidth and operational constraints, uncrewed maritime systems (UMs) have evolved from isolated experiments into interconnected force multipliers. This panel explores the rapid development of next-generation uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs). Emphasizing international interoperability and combined vendor-agnostic architectures, we highlight collaborative frameworks, multinational data-sharing, and cooperative development pathways. By uniting global allies, commercial innovators, leveraging partnerships with allied embassies, and joint forces, international stakeholders can bridge gaps in regulatory compliance, software assurance, and cross-domain operational synergy in contested environments.
Confirmed Panelists:
- Michael Stewart, Founder of N86U, LLC.
- Norwegian Embassy (Speaker to be announced)
- Anitra Keith, Director of Government Affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)
- Commander Kele-Ann Bourne Jessen (pending confirmation). First female Commander in the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force. She currently serves as a Defense and Military Attaché in Washington, D.C.
Panel B: Uncrewed Maritime Systems: A founder’s View
Marine robotics is seeing a surge in interest and investment in defense startups. Large funding rounds and generous valuations make the entrepreneurial path sound compelling. But what does it really take to launch a new business in this sector? And how is it going for companies that are largely commercial? Is the dual-use pull strong? Are investors and customers understanding? This panel brings together startup founders from across the UMS community to share their experiences.
Confirmed Panelists:
- Jean Crosetti, Bubble Robotics - UUVs for offshore energy infrastructure
- Robert Jechert, Oceanbotics - high performance small form factor ROVs
- Julie Angus, Open Ocean Robotics - persistent USVs for maritime monitoring
- Jake Russell, Orpheus Ocean - UUVs for deep seafloor observation
Panel C: Integrating Adjacent Tech, Market Dynamics, and Macro Trends in Maritime Autonomy
As uncrewed maritime systems (UMS) rapidly evolve, the intersection of adjacent technologies—such as advanced sensors, edge data processing, and hybrid power solutions—will define the next generation of operational success. This expert panel explores the critical engineering and strategic hurdles facing USVs and UUVs.
Discussion highlights include:
- Design & Engineering: Overcoming complex power constraints, data management bottlenecks, and distinct planning requirements for surface versus underwater autonomy.
- Market Perspectives: How sensor and data providers evaluate the current commercial and operational landscape.
- Macro Trends: Navigating shifting demands driven by the defense sector and the global energy transition.
- Buyer-Builder Synergy: Identifying the key insights and data that developers need from UMS buyers and prime builders to deliver high-utility solutions.
*MTS/Oceaneering Syposium Information and theme
We are pleased to collaborate with Oceaneering to provide transportation to and from the annual MTS/Oceaneering Symposium. Participation in the Symposium is optional. It is a free event and requires a separate registration with Oceaneering.
Persistent Presence: Operating at Scale in the New Maritime Era
The ocean is entering a new operational era—one defined not by occasional missions, but by continuous presence. Advances in robotics, sensors, communications, and data analytics are making it possible to monitor, understand, and operate in the maritime domain with unprecedented persistence. Yet the true challenge is no longer just developing these technologies; it is deploying and sustaining them at operational scale. This year’s symposium will explore how industry, government, and the research community are working together to move from episodic ocean activity to continuous maritime operations. Discussions will focus on the systems, infrastructure, and partnerships required to enable persistent presence—supporting maritime security, protecting critical infrastructure, advancing ocean science, enabling ocean exploration, and unlocking the full potential of the blue economy.
Abstracts
The Speaker Program will be organized on focused topical sessions consisting of 15 to 20-minute power-point presentations followed by a question-and-answer panel discussion. Abstracts are due by August 7, 2026.
For specific information on abstract categories, please refer to the document available here.
Abstract Categories
- Platforms
- Sensor Miniaturization
- Dual Use / Dual Domain
- Defense Applications
- Network Connectivity – comms or info dissemination
- Deep Sea Exploration and Interrogation
- Real-World Deployments, with an emphasis on storytelling and lessons learned
- Bio-Inspired Technologies
Register
Early bird registration will run from April 20 to July 10, 2026.
Registration includes morning coffee/tea and lunch October 7 and 8, plus bus transportation to and from the MTS/Oceaneering Symposium.
Early Bird (MTS Member): $400 USD
Early Bird (MTS Student Member): $200 USD
Early Bird (Non-Member): $500 USD (includes 1-yr MTS membership)
Non-Early Bird (MTS Member): $450 USD
Non-Early Bird (MTS Student Member): $225 USD
Non-Early Bird (Non-Member): $550 USD (includes 1-yr MTS membership)
One Day Registration: $200 USD
*To register, if you are not already an MTS member, you will be asked to create an MTS account and log in. This process is entirely free and does not mean you are formally joining MTS.
Exhibit
Exhibitor Package — $1,200
Includes:
- Dedicated exhibit table
- Access to electricity
- Two registrations
Limited exhibitor space is available.
After registration, download and complete the Exhibitor Terms and Conditions and email it to [email protected].
Questions: Contact [email protected]
Sponsorship Opportunities
Support innovation in offshore energy while increasing your organization’s visibility among a highly targeted audience. Sponsorship also contributes to a student travel support fund, helping bring the next generation of marine professionals into the conversation.
Gold Sponsor — $3,000 USD
- Logo placement on event materials
- Dedicated exhibit table (optional)
- Three registrations
Silver Sponsor — $1,500 USD
- Logo placement on event materials
- Dedicated exhibit table (optional)
- Two registrations
Bronze Sponsor — $750 USD
- Logo placement on event materials
- One registration
Questions: Contact [email protected]
Thank you to our Event Sponsors
Exclusive
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Media Partners
 
Travel
The TechSurge is located at the Crowne Plaza Crystal City, 1480 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202. Limited rooms have been reserved for our group. Secure yours here.
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