Open Ocean Software Community Day UK set for September 4, 2026

Open Ocean Software announced its inaugural Community Day UK, scheduled for September 4, 2026, at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton. The event runs directly after AUV 2026 at the same venue, making it easy for attendees to extend their stay. The day is designed for anyone who develops, maintains, or uses open-source software on autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and related marine platforms. The single-track format emphasizes focused talks and extended discussion time, giving participants a rare chance to provide early feedback on OpenOcean’s strategic direction and technical priorities.

The morning session (9:00–12:00) features lightning and standard talks, while the afternoon (13:30–16:30) includes keynotes and panel discussions on OpenOcean technical services—covering interoperability, simulation, and DevOps/packaging—as well as member-project standards for security, documentation, and licensing. A continued discussion at a local pub will follow. The call for abstracts is open until July 10, 2026, and explicitly welcomes talks about failures, false starts, and honest critiques alongside successes. Registration is £35 early bird (or £40 regular), with reduced rates for students and early-career professionals. This first-of-its-kind community day aims to strengthen collaboration within the marine robotics open-source ecosystem.