The format of the conference includes two days of presentations. All sessions will take place in the same room, so no one will have to miss a talk. Student posters will be presented at the end of the first day, but you are invited to check them out at any opportunity, since they will be on display throughout the conference. Gliders and Long-Duration Missions Recently, gliders have become instrumental in long-term environmental monitoring. Gliders and long-duration AUV missions do not require the presence of a support ship over the duration of their missions. They can collect time series data over days to months of deployment time and measurements over a large area, while transmitting fresh data to a land-based facility. Limitations include reduced payload power and questionable subsurface navigation precision. Near-Seafloor Surveys AUVs have been proven as exceptional platforms for seafloor mapping. In addition to bathymetry and sidescan, they are capable of collecting images and other time-series acoustic data, including subbottom profiles and near-seafloor water column backscatter. This topic also includes processing of such data. Water Column Measurements and Sampling In addition to seafloor surveys, missions at any depth can collect valuable information about physical and chemical properties of the water column. Miniaturization of chemical sensors and the introduction of novel sampling systems lead to a greater understanding of chemical processes in the ocean and additional input variables for the vehicles’ autonomous control. Navigation Compared to surface platforms, one of the greatest challenges of underwater vehicle operation is that of accurate navigation. This topic covers internal systems from vehicle motion modeling to inertial navigation, and external inputs such as acoustic transponder arrays and shipborne tracking systems. Mission Planning and Management Together, the mission plan and lower level routines define vehicle operation. The plan itself can be a lawnmowing survey or an open-ended tracking or following application. Management of these missions involve the vehicle control software and a topside station, with varying degrees of communication and control between the two. Further complications arise in multi-vehicle operations. Vehicle Systems From pressure housings and communication systems to thrusters, batteries, and control loops, this topic covers the development and general operation of an AUV’s hardware and software. Launch and recovery and other topside support equipment are included. Student Poster Competition Students are invited to present posters relating to their research in AUV technology or the application thereof. Students, please select this topic during abstract submission to participate in the poster competition.