What's New for 2026
Vehicle Requirements
Teams may enter up to two (2) vehicles in the competition and have the opportunity to showcase inter-vehicle communication.
Vehicles may be commercially available systems.
Capability Levels
Each mission task has capabilities divided by three levels:
Core Capabilities: Fundamental competencies required for safe and effective baseline autonomous operation.
Advanced Capabilities: Competencies that reflect growth in autonomy sophistication and real-world relevance.
Disruptive Capabilities: Transformative competencies pushing the boundary of autonomous systems - enabling novel or mission-critical applications.
Qualification Criteria
To qualify for Semi-Finals, the ASV must complete:
Core capabilities of two (2) individual tasks
Advanced capabilities of two (2) individual tasks
Two (2) tasks in sequence autonomously
Send heartbeat message
Reporting and Communications
ASV will send short updates with location and task status to the course server.
Multiple Boat Operations
As teams advance to Semi-Finals and Finals, multiple vessels may be operating in the course while the team is completing the mission.
Example: Teams' ASV detects and avoids a programmed or remote-control "Patrol Boat," that will be operating throughout the mission field.
Reduced Presentation/Assessment Time
The presentation and assessment time blocks have been reduced to 15-minute time blocks.
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