NOAA Research provides the research foundation for understanding our planet and technological innovation and scientific advances that improve our lives. As part of NOAA Research, NOAA-PMEL's Innovative Technology for Arctic Exploration (ITAE) program is developing new technologies to meet the scientific demand of the Arctic. The mission of the ITAE program is to conceptualize and build effective research equipment for the assessment of the Arctic environment and ecosystem with the operation of high-resolution sensors on autonomous platforms near sea ice. The dynamic and fine-­scale nature of these regions requires responsive, high-­resolution data collection over large areas in real time — a logistical challenge ideally suited to fast, mobile autonomous platforms rather than traditional ship-based operations.  Existing autonomous platforms are both small and slow, limiting the observational capacity, responsiveness, and deployment capabilities. ITAE is a collaborative research effort by University of Washington (JISAO) and NOAA engineers and scientists at the Pacific Marine Environmental Lab (PMEL).