Program

RoboBoat 2021

RoboBoat 2021

Ahoy explorers! Are you keen on taking an experimental learning approach to maritime autonomy? Let us introduce you to RoboBoat. 

RoboBoat is an international competition that invites participants to tackle simplified versions of challenges facing the modern maritime industry. These challenges may include coastal surveillance, port security, oceanographic exploration, and cooperative behavior between systems operating in different domains (air and sea). 

Ready your sea legs and set sail on this systems engineering journey where you will have the opportunity to design, build and test an Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV). Once your masterpiece is complete, put it to the test at RoboBoat and see the uniqueness of your system compared to that of your competitors from around the world.

Thanks to the community’s unwavering patience and discussions with competition sponsors and community members over these past few months, RoboBoat 2021 was held online. Click here to keep reading the announcement.

RoboBoat 2021

  • Dates
    • Registration Deadline: April 30
    • Submission Deadline: May 23
    • Awards Party: June 27
  • Location
    • Online! All submissions were collected in the online registration tool.
  • Eligibility
    • High School, Undergraduate, Graduate
  • Final Standings
  • Final Scoresheet / Rankings

    View Scoresheet

RoboBoat 2021: Final Standings

The 14th RoboBoat Competition took place online with 14 teams representing Egypt, Indonesia, Israel, México and the United States and territories. Congratulations teams!

View Results
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Submissions

Skills Video(s)
Skills Video(s)
Share your know-how. NEW in 2021!

Submission Format: 1-2 short videos, no longer than 11 minutes each

 

Overview: Strong communication skills are critical to bringing your project to life. Whether you are presenting in person or through video, you must deliver your ideas in a clear and convincing manner. Project supporters, such as supervisors, sponsors, or advisors must understand your ideas, and be convinced of their potential.

 

Students are invited to share the maturity of their system developed for RoboBoat 2021 by submitting a series of short technical videos. This visual effort is meant to showcase the team’s approach, decision and challenges while evaluating ability to communicate effectively.

 

Resources

Skills Video Guidelines (Updated on May 21, 2021)

Website
Website
Gather your information hub.

Submission Format: Website

 

Overview: Websites are often the first impression to give potential supporters such as supervisors, sponsors or advisors. Whether you work for a small start-up, a large research lab or mid-sized commercial company, your ideas and projects will need support and the first step is often to make a good impression.

 

Resources

Website Guidelines (Updated on April 21, 2021)

OPTIONAL Demonstration Video
OPTIONAL Demonstration Video
Showcase your vehicle behaviors. NEW and OPTIONAL in 2021!

Submission Format: 1 video, no longer than 20 minutes

 

Submission Deadline: June 13, 2021

 

Overview: One of the primary advantages of competing in person is the ability to showcase vehicle behaviors. During the competition, the vehicles autonomously perform the given tasks and are evaluated and scored.

 

Since teams/schools/countries have different guidelines they must follow during the pandemic, to maintain equitable opportunities for competition while providing a means to showcase vehicle performance, students are invited to submit an optional demonstration video. These videos will highlight behaviors necessary for the competition.

 

Resources

Optional Video Guidelines (Updated on May 21, 2021)

 

Make your feedback count and share it on the forum!

Resources

roboboat logo

Rules & Task Description (Updated on April 21, 2021)

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skills video icon

Skills Video Guidelines (Updated on May 18, 2021)

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Technical Design Report Guidelines

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website icon

Website Guidelines (Updated on April 21, 2021)

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optional demo video icon

Optional Demonstration Video Guidelines (Updated on May 18, 2021)

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Competition Timeline

Teams

Diponegoro University
Diponegoro University
Roboboat Aterkia Undip | UNDIP

Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia

Website | Instagram

Technical Design Report
Skills Videos: Hull Design | Sensor Optimization

 

Roboboat Diponegoro University is a place to apply research and development in the robotic field based on the improvement of maritime technology globally with amassing potential collages in Diponegoro University. ATERKIA is a ship designed by Roboboat UNDIP Team. Achievements obtained by our team are 6th place and Best Design of Cost Performance in 4th International Roboboat Competition 2011 and Hull Form Design Award 5th International Roboboat Competition (AUVSI) 2012

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Team Phantom | ERAU

Daytona Beach, Florida, USA

Website

Technical Design Report | No video

 

Team Phantom is returning again this year with its Phantom II trimaran ASV. This year’s iteration features an overhauled electrical system and has shifted its software from LabView to ROS. Additionally, an expended aft deck space has been created for easier quadcopter operations. Team Phantom features a core of returning members as well as a number of enthusiastic new members, each anxious for RoboBoat 2021!

Hagerty High School
Hagerty High School
The Water Dogs | HHS

Oviedo, Florida, USA

Website

Technical Design Report

Skills Video: Hull Design

 

The Water Dogs strive to expand STEM education in our local community, inspiring people along the way. We proudly participate in a variety of outreach events every year to accomplish this goal, as well as hosting several summer camps to steer young kids into the amazing world of STEM. Our hometown is Oviedo, FL and we are excited for another awesome Roboboat competition.

Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember
Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember
Barunastra ITS Roboboat Team | ITS

Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Technical Design Report | Skills Video: Hull Design

 

Barunastra ITS Team focuses on the research of Autonomous Robots Vessels since 2012. Barunastra comes from two words; Varuna/Baruna which, according to Hindu belief, means the God of the sea and Astra meaning a weapon. Thus, Barunastra means the weapon of the sea God. There are 3 main divisions that play an important role in this team, Mechanics, Electro-Programming, and Non-Technical. Our core vision is developing unmanned vessels to foster the world’s maritime technology advancement.

Military Technical College
Military Technical College
MW | MTC

Cairo, Egypt

Website

Technical Design Report | Skills Video: Hull Design

 

MW in ancient Egyptian language means water. MW is a seasoned undergraduate team, based in Cairo, Egypt, representing the Military Technical College and specialized in building maritime autonomous systems, ASV and ROV. Loaded with thousands of years of ancient Egyptian legacy of ship building. Although 2019 was the first entry for MW, which was full of logistics issues, but got rewarded the rapid prototyping award.

Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education
Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education
VantTec | VTEC

Monterrey, Nuevo León, México

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Technical Design Report

Skills Video: Power Management | Sensor Optimization

 

VantTec is a group of students from Tec de Monterrey focused on the research and development of unmanned autonomous vehicles. The team emerged in 2017 as a multidisciplinary project with undergraduate and graduate students interested in researching new technologies, revolutionizing the field of STEM.

Sebelas Maret University
Sebelas Maret University
Bengawan UV Roboboat Team | BUVUNS

Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia

Website | Instagram

Technical Design Report

Skills Video: Hull Design  | Sensor Optimization

 

Bengawan UV Roboboat team is a Sub-team of Bengawan UV Sebelas Maret University which has been established since December 2016. This team aims to advance research in science and technology especially on unmanned surface vehicle in indonesia. This year is the first time for Bengawan UV Team to join Roboboat competition which focuses on Research, Development, and Building Autonomus Vehicle.

UM::Autonomy
UM::Autonomy
UMA

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Technical Design Report

Skills Video: Hull Design | Power Management

 

UM::Autonomy is an award-winning undergraduate student project team from the University of Michigan. Each year we build an autonomous boat that is completely designed and programmed by students and must complete a wide range of challenges that are designed to test its autonomous abilities. We aim to further the study of autonomous robotics by providing students with hands-on multidisciplinary design experience in artificial intelligence, image processing, navigation, naval architecture, and mechanical design.

University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Ragin' Cajuns | UL

Lafayette, Louisiana, USA

Website | Twitter

Technical Design Report

Skills Video: Sensor Optimization

 

2021 is the third year that the Ragin’ Cajuns have competed in the RoboBoat contest. The team is hoping to continue the year-over-year improvements and follow last year’s 2nd place overall finish with a victory. This year’s team again comes completely from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and is led by a team of four graduating seniors.

University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez
University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez
UPRM Roboboat Team | UPRMROBO

Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Technical Design Report | Skills Video: Hull Design

 

The UPRM Roboboat Team is from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. It was founded to promote female participation in the STEM field. The team strives to have diversity in educational backgrounds and gender. RUMBA 2.0 is the returning aquatic vehicle that will be used to compete in the Roboboat Competition 2021.

Thank you RoboBoat Judges!

Technical Design Report (TDR)
Technical Design Report (TDR)
Time Commitment: 14-16 hours

Overview: Judges will review and score a 10 page technical paper that describes the team’s vehicle design, as well as strategies for their approach to the tasks. The TDR should also include rationale for design choices.

 

Eligibility: Not currently a member or advisor of a competing team; 18+ years old

 

Preferred Experience:  Knowledge and experience reviewing proposals or program reports for performance or funding approval or continuation. Understanding of general engineering design principles, maritime robotics and/or autonomy. 

 

Time Commitment:

 • 45-60 min / report (14 reports)

 • 2 weeks to review

 • Total time: 14-16 hours

(1hr orientation mtg + review + 1hr reconciliation mtg)

 

Key Dates: 

 • June 2 @ 1800 ET – Judges Orientation Call

 • June 2 – 16, 2021 – Evaluation Period

 • Week of June 23 – Judges Reconciliation Call

 

Resources

Website
Website
Time Commitment: 8 hours

Overview: Judges will review team websites for content, usability and design using the website guidelines.

 

Eligibility: Not currently a member or advisor of a competing team; 18+ years old

 

Preferred Experience: Knowledge and experience developing websites/UI/UX and/or basic principles of engineering and/or technical communication.

 

Time Commitment:

 • 20 min / site (all sites per competition)

 • 2 weeks to review

 • Total time: 7-8 hours

(1hr orientation mtg + review + 1hr reconciliation mtg)

 

 

Key Dates: 

 • June 2 @ 1800 ET – Judges Orientation Call

 • June 2 – 16, 2021 – Evaluation Period

 • Week of June 23 – Judges Reconciliation Call

 

 

Resources

Skills Video
Skills Video
Time Commitment: 9 hours

Overview: Judges will review skills video(s) (1-2 per team) and score the team’s ability to convey technical approach, decisions and challenges while also evaluating ability to communicate in a clear and convincing manner.

 

Eligibility: Not currently a member or advisor of a competing team; 18+ years old

 

Preferred Experience: Knowledge and experience with maritime technology, particularly autonomous systems and/or vehicles.

 

Time Commitment:

 • 11 min / video (all videos in one of four categories)

 • Categories:

    (1) Hull design,

    (2) Propulsion,

    (3) Power Management,

    (4) Sensors

 • Total time: 8-10 hours

(1hr orientation mtg + review + 1hr reconciliation mtg)

    •  

Key Dates: 

 • June 2 @ 1800 ET – Judges Orientation Call

 • June 2 – 16, 2021 – Evaluation Period

 • Week of June 23 – Judges Reconciliation Call

 

Resources

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Find Out More

By land, sea, airspace or cyberspace there’s a place for you in RoboNation. Before we start asking complex questions, let’s start with some simple ones, like your name, email and your field of interest.

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