PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- A Florida business promotion organization and Lockheed Martin are to advance testing and production of an autonomous underwater vehicle.
The project is in support of aerospace economic development in Florida.
Under the agreement between Space Florida and Lockheed, Lockheed will equip Marlin systems with sensors and imaging gear to conduct commercial underwater inspections.
Space Florida, which is investing in Lockheed Martin's technology for refinement and marketing prior to commercial production, said the vehicle can be used by the oil and gas industry to inspect underwater infrastructure and pipelines.
Lockheed will build Marlins at its facility in Palm Beach.
"Lockheed Martin is committed to providing high technology jobs in Palm Beach that help promote Florida as a place to foster innovation," said Richard Holmberg, vice president of mission and unmanned systems at Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems & Sensors business. "Our partnership with Space Florida for the Marlin AUV will help support these job opportunities."
"These AUVs have multiple commercial and civil applications in areas such as infrastructure inspection," Space Florida President Frank DiBello said. "This investment fits well with Space Florida's strategy of leveraging aerospace-related technology in growing the industry three-fold in Florida by 2020; additionally, this project utilizes the financing capabilities that the Florida Legislature gave Space Florida to help strengthen the state's position as a global leader in aerospace research."
Space Florida was created as a special district to serve as the single point of contact for all space-related functions of the state of Florida and is Florida's aerospace economic development organization.
