Japan's marine research agency, JAMSTEC, aims to develop a more efficient autonomous underwater vehicle by fiscal 2028 to search for seabed resources such as rare-earth elements, Nikkei Asia reported on Wednesday.
The agency, which operates the Chikyu drilling vessel, conducted trial mining this year near Minamitorishima, where large rare-earth deposits are believed to lie in seafloor mud, the news daily said.
The new AUV will combine cruising and hovering capabilities to improve survey efficiency and reduce exploration time, with domestic technologies prioritized given the economic security implications of such work, the publication said.
The development is part of the Cabinet Office's K Program, with trial outings planned for fiscal 2028, involving the National Maritime Research Institute and Idea Consultants, the report said.
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