Schmidt Sciences Awards $11m for AI in Humanities Research
Schmidt Sciences has awarded $11 million for up to 23 teams of researchers around the world to develop and apply artificial intelligence to archaeology, history, literature and other humanities disciplines, seeking to unlock new understandings of human history and culture.“Our newest technologies may shed light on our oldest truths, on all that makes us human—from the origins of civilization to the peaks of philosophical thought to contemporary art and film,” said Wendy Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Sciences. “Schmidt Sciences’ Humanities andAI Virtual Institute (HAVI)
New Technologies Boost Wave Power Potential
wave energy, under a high-growth scenario supported by a modernized UK supply chain, could deliver more than $40 billion (£30 billion) in gross value added to the economy and support tens of thousands of jobs.One of the aims of the project is to demonstrate the survivability, reliability, and performance of wave energy systems. This is a challenge being tackled around the world.In November, NREL researchers in the US announced the development of a free, open-source tool that combines (or stacks) multiple wave energy modeling capabilities into one user-friendly package.With SEA-Stack, wave energy
AeroVironment to Deliver Mission Specialist Defender ROVs to USGC
AeroVironment, Inc., a provider of underwater robotic systems, announced it has been awarded a $4.8 million United States Coast Guard contract through its wholly owned subsidiary, VideoRay, to deliver Mission Specialist Defender remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) as part of the Service’s Force Design 2028 modernization initiative.The Defender will enhance the Coast Guard’s maritime response capabilities by enabling rapid underwater inspections, pier inspections, hull assessments, subsurface infrastructure surveys, disaster response and search and rescue operations in challenging environments&
HII USV Reaches 30% Completion, On Track for 2026 Sea Trials
HII executives toured Breaux Brothers Enterprises in Loreauville, Louisiana, and announced that construction of a prototype of ROMULUS, the company’s new unmanned surface vessel (USV) family, has reached 30% completion. The vessel remains on schedule for sea trials in the fourth quarter of 2026.During the visit, HII leaders toured the shipyard with build partners Breaux Brothers and Incat Crowther, and reviewed progress on hull construction, integration of the HII’s Odyssey Autonomous Control System (ACS), and outfitting work.ROMULUS USVs are designed to meet the current and emerging
The Fleet of the Future: How Oceaneering is Redefining Offshore Operations
shared insights with MTR about the operations of a multi-vessel, multi-mission fleet.Dynamic flexibilityDan’s wide-ranging career in oil and gas has spanned from an offshore technician to sales, account management and now operations. He’s held his current role as vice president - OPG Americas for three years.A typical day may vary greatly, but there’s a common emphasis on developing the teams and scopes that will address the projects that come their way. “It's a lot of planning of future work, of current work, and a lot of risk and hazard identification and management,&rdquo
Vatn Systems Raises $60 Million Series A to Redefine Underwater Naval Warfare at Scale
Vatn Systems, a defense technology company building autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for the US military, allied nations, and commercial customers, announced it has raised $60 million in Series A funding, bringing total funding to $76.5M. The round was led by BVVC, with participation from new investors such as Hanwha, Geodesic Capital, Airbus Ventures, Dauntless Ventures, Trousdale Ventures, and Veteran Ventures Capital. Major existing investors also participated in the round, including DYNE Ventures, Propeller Ventures, Decisive Point Ventures, SAIC Ventures, Centre Street Partners, Cubit
Babcock Marks Keel Laying for HMS Formidable, Makes US Submarine Deal
Babcock has marked two major milestones at its Rosyth shipyard in Scotland as the keel was laid for HMS Formidable, the third ship in the UK’s Type 31 frigate program, and the company announced an expanded partnership with U.S. defense contractor HII to support construction of Virginia-class submarines.The keel laying signals continued progress on the Type 31 program, under which five frigates are due for delivery to the Royal Navy within 10 years of contract signing. The ceremony saw the first modular section of the ship positioned over a coin, following naval tradition intended to bring good
Subsea Cable Sabotage: Underwater, Underprotected, and Under Attack!
against a backdrop of increased hostile action against subsea cables, with the UK and Japan both recently announcing measures to secure vital cable infrastructure. While the most recent damage appears to have been accidental, it further illustrates the deficiencies of the international legal regime for management and protection of these vital assets.Geopolitical contextThe Red Sea is an area of major geopolitical interest. It sits between Africa and Asia, and is surrounded by States who are major players in energy industries. The region is also characterized by geopolitical tension, with Saudi Arabia
HII Hosts Keel Laying of Virginia-Class Attack Submarine Barb
HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division hosted the keel laying ceremony today for Virginia-class attack submarine Barb (SSN 804).SSN 804 will be the third U.S. Navy submarine to carry the name Barb. The first, SS 220, was commissioned in 1942. During World War II, the submarine conducted missions under the command of Eugene “Lucky” Fluckey, earning the submarine four Presidential Citations, a Navy Unit Commendation and eight battle stars for outstanding service. The second, SSN 596, was a nuclear-powered submarine commissioned in 1963. It was sponsored by Marjorie Fluckey
August 2025
