Marine Advanced Technology Program
"If you want to build a ship, don't herd people together to collect wood
and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long
for the endless immensity of the sea."
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The MATE program operates out of Monterey Peninsula College
in Monterey California.
It provides technical training for marine technicians, including
the design and operation of
ROV's (Remotely Operated Vehicles).

In July of 2004, Ocean Institute staff (Dave) was invited to participate in a
competition to design a vehicle to perform a number of task underwater, including:
delivering a payload to the bottom, placing an object precisely on a target,
reading an inscription in the dark with its video camera, retrieving an object
off the bottom, competing in races and a tug-of-war with other vehicles.

A well-designed ROV awaits its first competition in the college pool. A working unit like this with thrusters, video camera and light can be built for about $100.
	(Left) A slightly different design is tested for buoyancy and electrical shorts in shallow water.
ROV's engaged in competition.	A close-up view of a simple thruster.
Back in the shop, design alterations are made in anticipation of the final competition.	Top view of the legendary "Hammerhead" an extremely fast and manoeuvrable ROV.
	Shake-down cruise in the pool. The redesigned and freshly painted J.A.P.O.C. is tested for a series of tasks: Read an inscription on a ship's bell, navigate through a maze, retrieve objects and leave a "dart" on a target. To find its way it is equipped with a video camera and light. Underwater images courtesy of John Lunsford - MATE
	Competition begins JAPOC is successfully evades a white shark* and enters the artificial reef to complete its tasks using an underwater light and video to read an inscription on a ships's bell, retrieve an object and to leave a dart on a target. *(OK, it's just a model of a shark)
A glimpse of the real world: A view of the harbor at Moss Landing where the Western Flyer (Top, right) is berthed.	The view from the bridge of the Western Flyer..
	The giant test tank at MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) where ROV's are tested before being deployed in the ocean
Lights, camera, action! In the "moon pool" of the Western Flyer where ROV's are deployed.
	An ROV with long-term capability is prepared for work under Arctic ice.
	There is plenty to observe at the surface and mid-water; including these graceful jellyfish.
	Benthic creatures that warrant a close look are anemones.
The cool waters of the California coast harbor a wide variety of fishes, like this rock fish, leopard shark, jellyfishes and comb jellies.