The government plans to establish a council to promote domestic production of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), also known as underwater drones, according to an intermediate plan seen by The Yomiuri Shimbun on the government's strategy for such craft.
The public-private council will be a pillar of the strategy, and is expected to examine problems related to both demand and supply, including how to utilize AUVs in the future. The government plans to set up the council as early as May, before the strategy is finalized.
AUVs are used for such purposes as observation and surveys of seafloor topography. The government believes they will come to play even more important roles in marine resource development and security.
