Ocean Power Technologies (OPT), a provider of offshore power, data, and service solutions, announced the opening of a new office at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) headquarters in Washington, D.C.
This move is part of the company’s expansion efforts and moves to advance uncrewed systems operations and policy engagement at the national level.
The new office, located in the heart of the U.S. capital, positions OPT alongside the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of uncrewed systems and robotics. OPT said the proximity will strengthen its relationship with AUVSI and enhance collaboration on industry-wide initiatives, including the AUVSI Trusted Operator Program, which sets standards for safety, training, and operations across air, ground, and maritime domains.
“We believe establishing a presence in Washington, D.C. allows us to deepen our engagement with key stakeholders in government, industry, and policy,” said Jason Weed, SVP of Commercial Sales at Ocean Power Technologies. “Our relationship with AUVSI has been instrumental in promoting best practices for the safe and effective deployment of unmanned systems, and this expansion reflects our shared vision for the future of maritime autonomy.”
OPT also argues the move supports its broader growth strategy, which includes expanding its fleet of WAM-V Unmanned Surface Vehicles, advancing its AI-capable Merrows Maritime Domain Awareness System, and delivering persistent offshore infrastructure via its PowerBuoy platforms.
By collocating with AUVSI, OPT gains increased access to thought leadership, collaborative opportunities, and real-time engagement with decision-makers shaping the future of uncrewed systems in both defense and commercial sectors.
OPT also recently announced a major upgrade to its AI-capable Merrows Maritime Domain Awareness Solution (MDAS). The updated system expands its role as an ISR node enabling enhanced maritime domain awareness and autonomous collaboration across surface, subsurface, and aerial platforms.
OPT argues that Merrows now delivers faster performance, greater stability, and improved security empowering operators to maintain a persistent watch in contested or remote environments. The system also allows multiple users to monitor the same or different assets simultaneously, while new integration pathways have made it easier to fuse third-party feeds such as global AIS, weather data, and advanced mapping tools.
“Merrows is evolving into the connective tissue of maritime operations,” said Philipp Stratmann, President and CEO of Ocean Power Technologies. “These upgrades allow it to function as a true ISR node supporting autonomous platforms, streamlining decision-making, and strengthening awareness in complex maritime domains.”
The enhanced AI-capable Merrows MDAS can be deployed independently or paired with OPT’s PowerBuoy platforms and WAM-V Unmanned Surface Vehicles to create persistent, autonomous monitoring networks tailored to mission requirements.