Boxfish Robotics will demonstrate the autonomous survey capabilities of its Boxfish AUV during a live in-water session at ICRS 2026 in Auckland.
The demonstration will show how a hovering Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) can support repeatable reef and benthic monitoring by operating over complex terrain, maintaining stable altitude and orientation, and collecting high-resolution visual data for scientific analysis.
During the session, the Boxfish AUV will execute autonomous, geo-referenced transects and capture still imagery and video suitable for photogrammetry. The platform will also demonstrate the use of onboard navigation and obstacle-avoidance systems to operate safely in reef-like environments.
The in-water session will take place in central Auckland on Friday, July 24, 2026, at 3pm, during the final day of ICRS 2026, which runs from July 19 to 24. Final location details will be shared with registered attendees closer to the event.
The demonstration is intended for marine scientists, researchers, environmental managers, monitoring programme leads, policy advisors, technology users, and organizations exploring autonomous tools for reef and coastal monitoring. No prior experience with AUVs is required.
Boxfish Robotics is a New Zealand-based developer of underwater robotic platforms for marine science, environmental monitoring, and ocean research. Its Boxfish AUV and ROV systems are used globally by research institutions, environmental consultancies, and government agencies for applications including coral reef monitoring, benthic habitat mapping, and long-term environmental surveys.
The demonstration is free to attend, with registration required. Capacity is limited, and registration must be completed at least seven days before the event.
