Marine Autonomy Research Site (MARS)
The Marine Autonomy Research Site (MARS) was established by the Smart Ships Coalition and Michigan Technological University to serve as a dedicated freshwater test bed for autonomous surface and underwater vessels. As the commercial availability and technological maturity of autonomous marine systems such as Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles have rapidly advanced, so has the need for real-world testing environments where these systems can be safely evaluated under actual operating conditions.
Similar to the development of autonomous vehicles in the automotive and aviation sectors, autonomous maritime systems require rigorous testing to assess how they interact with crewed vessels, comply with Coast Guard regulations, and perform safely in shared navigable waters. MARS was created to fill this need - providing a controlled, yet realistic, environment for researchers, private companies, and government agencies to test and refine autonomous technologies without disrupting commercial navigation or posing safety risks.
MARS Location and Assets
Located in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula and centered within a 30-mile radius of Michigan Tech’s Houghton/Hancock campus, MARS offers a unique combination of inland waterways, lakes, and open Lake Superior shoreline. The site includes the Portage Canal, Torch Lake, Portage River, and adjacent coastal waters, all supported by the university’s high-accuracy real-time GPS network. This geography provides a diverse and accessible environment for autonomous vessel operations, especially for smaller research and survey vessels under 10 meters in length—systems expected to be the first to see near-term commercial use.
