The Society for Underwater Technology’s Gwyn Griffiths Award for Underwater Robotics has been won by Rustom (Rusty) Jehangir, founder and CEO of Blue Robotics, an ocean technology company based in Torrance, California.
Neil Bose, chair of SUT’s Underwater Robotics Panel, and vice president (research), Memorial University, Newfoundland and Labrador’s University, says: “The standard of entries for the SUT’s Gwyn Griffiths Award for Underwater Robotics was extremely competitive this year, and the nominees of high calibre, which challenged the judges to select this year’s winner.
“On behalf of the Panel, the judges and SUT, we would like to recognise the talent, innovation, and qualities of all the entrants working in underwater robotics.”
On hearing the news of the Award, Jehangir said: “Wow! I’m honoured and humbled to receive this award bearing Gwyn Griffiths’ name, given all that he accomplished and contributed to the field of marine robotics. I consider this Award to be an honour for my whole team.”
The submission nominating Rustom Jehangir for the Award stated: “Under Rusty’s vision and leadership, Blue Robotics has dramatically reduced the cost of ocean robotics, reshaped market expectations of ocean engineering components, enabled hundreds of new research efforts using turn-key affordable platforms, and empowered thousands of new learners to gain practical experience with ocean technology.
“Blue Robotics is the exemplar of the current market trend that sees the cost of ocean robotics decreasing while the capabilities are increasing. This is double leverage and driving significant growth in the New Blue Economy.”
Looking to the future, Rustom says: “We’re eight years into our journey and I’m having more fun than ever! I truly believe in our core mission of making affordable, capable components and systems to enable people to do more with marine robotics and we’re going to keep doing that.
“We’ve learned a lot and we can keep doing it better and better. The ocean is a big place and there’s a lot of room to grow and a lot of opportunities.”
