The operation of autonomous underwater vehicles (auvs) represents a critical capability for ocean observation, but their deployment and recovery remains a personnel-intensive operation and limits…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded $188,856 to Chance Technologies LLC, doing business as Chance Maritime Technologies, on September 1, 2026, under the NOAA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program (CFDA 11.021) to develop an automated launch and recovery system (ALARS) that integrates with long-endurance, work-class uncrewed surface vehicles to enable fully remote autonomous underwater vehicle operations.

The ALARS system eliminates the need for human presence during AUV launch and recovery, addressing NOAA's priorities for ocean monitoring, coastal resilience, water quality monitoring, and response to extreme events. The integrated multi-domain uncrewed systems research combines advanced manufacturing, uncrewed systems technology, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence to enable 24/7 operations in diverse weather conditions for more than two weeks. The cloud-based interface allows single remote operators to manage multiple autonomous systems simultaneously, creating a force-multiplier effect particularly valuable for coastal communities requiring persistent monitoring and rapid response during extreme weather.

Performance occurs in Lafayette, Louisiana 70508, with an ultimate completion date of February 26, 2027. This Phase I award funds proof-of-concept work under the SBIR program, which seeks to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector and strengthen small business participation in federal research and development.

The operation of autonomous underwater vehicles (auvs) represents a critical capability for ocean observation, but their deployment and recovery remains a personnel-intensive operation and limits their utilization in challenging conditions. This phase i sbir proposal introduces an innovative automated launch and recovery system (alars) that integrates with long endurance, work-class uncrewed surface vehicles (usvs) to enable fully remote AUV operations. This multi-domain uncrewed systems (UXS) research combines advanced manufacturing techniques, uncrewed systems technology, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. Our solution eliminates the need for human presence during launch and recovery operations, dramatically improving safety and increasing access, while enabling 24/7 operations, for more than two weeks in diverse weather conditions. The proposed system directly addresses NOAA's mission requirements for monitoring the changing ocean (9.3), coastal resilience (9.2), while enabling safer water quality monitoring (9.4), and improved response to extreme events (9.1). The integration of our lars with usvs creates a force-multiplier effect, allowing single, remote operators to manage multiple autonomous systems simultaneously through cloud-based interfaces. This capability particularly benefits coastal communities requiring persistent monitoring and rapid response capabilities during extreme weather events.