New XPrize calls for technologies to map the ocean floor
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.029450
Science : Roughly 95% of the ocean remains unexplored. To help reduce that number, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Shell are sponsoring a $7 million XPrize for teams to develop new technologies that can explore the ocean floor. The competition will test devices for their ability to produce high-resolution area maps and images of objects at depths of 2 km and 4 km that will help scientists identify specific features on the sea floor. A bonus prize will be awarded for a device that can track chemical or biological signals to their source. This is the third of five ocean-related XPrizes; the first two focused on oil-spill cleanup and technologies that monitor ocean health.
