OXFORD,
\nMiss. – The National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology is
\nhosting a grand opening this week for its new undersea vehicle
\ndevelopment shop at the University of Mississippi Field Station.<\/p>\n
The
\nribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday (Oct. 8), followed
\nby tours of the facility and a reception. The new shop provides NIUST
\nwith a central location to work on innovative technology development
\nfor its three high-tech undersea vehicles.
\n
“Bringing together our vehicles in one location at a facility dedicated to creating new instruments and sensors will be a significant boost to our creative capabilities and improve operational efficiencies,” said Ray Highsmith, the institute’s executive director.<\/p>\n
The institute’s three undersea vehicles are the Eagle Ray, an autonomous undersea vehicle, a photographic AUV under construction and a remotely operated (tethered) vehicle. The Eagle Ray was designed for NIUST’s goals of seafloor exploration, research and technology development. The unique ROV was designed and built by NIUST to service a deep seafloor observatory being installed by NIUST, the U.S. Minerals Management Service and the U.S. Department of Energy 100 miles off the Gulf Coast in the Mississippi Canyon.<\/p>\n
The new shop will help researchers consolidate innovative engineering and technology efforts for the vehicles. The air-conditioned shop provides a modern three-bay facility for working on the delicate electronic and computing systems needed to operate the vehicles.<\/p>\n
Collectively, the new vehicles and new shop represent a major advance in NIUST’s ability to carry out its mission, Highsmith said.<\/p>\n
NIUST is a partnership among UM, the University of Southern Mississippi and NOAA’s Undersea Research Program. The institute’s goals include developing and using advanced technologies to explore and study marine ecosystems; investigating new, living and nonliving resources from the sea; promoting coastal and ocean environmental health; advancing understanding of oceans and human health; enhancing seafloor surveying and observing systems; and developing new and more capable undersea vehicles<\/p>\n
NIUST’s continuing development as a leader in ocean science represents progress in Mississippi’s efforts to utilize advances in science and technology for economic growth, Highsmith said.<\/p>\n
To get to the UM Field Station, go east on Highway 30 from the Highway 7 intersection in Oxford for 1.3 miles. Turn left onto County Road 215 for about 2 miles. Turn right onto County Road 202 for about 5.5 miles and watch for the Field Station entrance on the right, just past Bay Springs Baptist Church.<\/p>\n
For more information or for assistance related to a disability, call 662-915-5479. For more information on NIUST, go to http:\/\/niust.org\/. For more information on the UM Field Station, go to http:\/\/baysprings.olemiss.edu\/<\/a> .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"