Research and development prospect Autonomous Marine Systems, that has received a $1.6 million Tobacco Commission grant to locate in the Southern Virginia Product Advancement Center (former Daystrom building) at Greens Folly, also has been named the second place energy winner of $175,000 in the first-ever Virginia Velocity Business Plan Competition.

Governor Terry McAuliffe announced Tuesday the winners of the competition that provided $850,000 to five companies in the bioscience and energy sectors that were looking to expand their business in Virginia.

Autonomous Marine Systems Inc. is a marine data company changing the way the world explores and studies the oceans. Using a patented low-cost, fully autonomous sailboat, Autonomous Marine Systems delivers persistent ocean intelligence anywhere around the world at one-tenth of the cost of existing services. The systems emit zero carbon dioxide and do not risk human life.

Autonomous Marine Systems supports development of the company's next generation Datamaran and was founded seven years ago by two Princeton educated engineers and businessmen, who are currently partnering with MIT, DARPA and a host of energy industries to develop a fleet of autonomous water craft to collect oceanographic data for the energy, defense and weather industries.