The Cornell University's 'Nova' 2009 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), about to be weighed and hoisted into the water. Red-shirted team-mates guard it like mother hens, as well they might. Victorious in 2003, they have been skunked ever since, up till now. This test vehicle has been in the water every day since May. SPAWAR Transducer Test Facility, San Diego, 12th International Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Competition, sponsored by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International