Mission Systems Sponsors MOOS-DAWG '26 at MIT
- Mission Systems
- Jul 13
- 2 min read
Inside the Community Shaping the Future of Maritime Autonomy
On 29–30 July, some of the world's leading minds in autonomous maritime systems will gather at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts for MOOS-DAWG '26 — the ninth meeting of the MOOS Development and Applications Working Group.
Mission Systems is proud to be a sponsor.
What is MOOS-DAWG?
MOOS-DAWG is a biennial working group meeting for developers and practitioners building with MOOS and MOOS-IvP — two open software frameworks widely used in autonomous maritime research and operations.
The format is deliberately focused: single-track discussions, live platform demonstrations and panel sessions on best practices and the road ahead. No sprawling conference halls. Just serious people working on serious problems in maritime autonomy.
Past participants have included MIT's Marine Autonomy Lab, Jaia Robotics, Sea Machines Robotics, and research teams from institutions across the US, UK and beyond — presenting everything from low-cost AUV platforms and autonomous sailing vessels to multi-agent decision-making systems and collision avoidance frameworks for unmanned surface vehicles.
The 2026 participant list will be posted in June.
What is MOOS-IvP?
MOOS — Mission Orientated Operating Suite — is a middleware framework originally developed at MIT for robotic and autonomous systems operating in marine environments. MOOS-IvP extends this with a behaviour-based autonomy system that allows autonomous vehicles to make real-time decisions across competing objectives.
In practice, it's the software backbone that allows an autonomous underwater or surface vehicle to plan a mission, respond to changing conditions, avoid obstacles and operate without continuous human input.
It is used by research institutions, defence organisations and technology companies around the world — and it is central to how Mission Systems develops autonomous behaviour for its underwater systems.
Why Mission Systems is Sponsoring
For Mission Systems, MOOS-DAWG is not just a conference. It's a community we are actively part of.
Our work in autonomous underwater systems — from the Macruru AUV to our acoustic communications and mine countermeasure capabilities — is built on the same foundations being discussed, challenged and advanced at this event. Being in the room with the researchers and engineers at the frontier of this technology matters to us.
Sponsoring MOOS-DAWG '26 is a reflection of that commitment — to the community, to the technology and to the broader mission of advancing sovereign and allied autonomous maritime capability.
Keep an eye out for the Mission Systems t-shirts on the day. 👕
If you're attending MOOS-DAWG '26, we'd love to connect.
Mission Systems is an Australian defence technology company specialising in autonomy, simulation and underwater systems. To learn more, visit missionsystems.com.au
Images sourced from the previous MOOS-DAWG'24 event website.
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