Competitions

Established by the Association for Unmanned Vehicles Systems International, the AUVSI Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides students with hands-on robotics activities designed to fuel and sustain their interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). 

Each year the AUVSI Foundation offers a series of educational programs as well as robotics competitions that allow students to apply their STEM education outside the classroom. The experience is ideal preparation for entering the workforce, which is why participating students are frequently offered coveted internship and employment opportunities while still in school. Since the competitions began in 1991, more than $1.3 million has been awarded in prize money. 

National SeaPerch Challenge

May 17-19, 2013

Indianapolis, IN

www.auvsifoundation.org/seaperch or www.seaperch.org

Each year, middle and high school students from across the country gather to compete in the National SeaPerch Challenge. During the National SeaPerch Challenge, student teams must demonstrate the capabilities of the SeaPerches they have built as they navigate through an underwater obstacle course. Teams also display posters and deliver oral presentations about their design philosophy and construction challenges before a panel of judges. SeaPerch is an easy to assemble, underwater ROV (remotely operated vehicle) which is built from a kit, making it a great entry point for students interested in robotics. 

Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC)

June 7-10, 2013

Oakland University

Rochester, MI

www.auvsifoundation.org/igvc

Created in 1993, the IGVC challenges student teams to develop an autonomous ground vehicle that can navigate a complex list of mobility, design, and interoperable architecture requirements. Based on product realization, it is multi-disciplinary, theory-based, hands-on, team implemented, and outcome assessed. It encompasses the very latest technologies impacting industrial development and taps subjects of high interest to students. Design and construction of an Intelligent Vehicle fits well in a two-semester senior year capstone course or an extra curricular activity earning a design credit.

Student Unmanned Air Systems (SUAS) Competition

June 19-22, 2013

Webster Field

Patuxent River, MD

www.auvsifoundation.org/suas

The SUAS Competition, aimed at stimulating and fostering interest in unmanned air systems, technologies and careers, focuses on engaging students in a challenging mission. It requires the design, integration, and demonstration of a system capable of conducting air operations which includes autonomous flight, navigation of a specified course, and use of onboard payload sensors. The event has been held annually since 2002.

International RoboBoat Competition

July 8-14, 2013

Founders Inn and Spa

Virginia Beach, VA

www.roboboat.org

The International RoboBoat Competition was first held in 2008. In it, student teams race autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) of their own design through an aquatic obstacle course. This includes littoral area navigation, channel following, and autonomous docking. It is typically accomplished with computer vision, multi-sensor fusion techniques, proactive and reactive path planning, and machine learning approaches using embedded systems within the vehicle. The competition provides an opportunity for students to develop skills in system engineering by accomplishing realistic missions with autonomous vehicles in the maritime environment. 

International RoboSub Competition

July 22-28, 2013

SSC Pacific TRANSDEC

San Diego, CA

www.robosub.org

Since 1998, the RoboSub competition has advanced the development of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) by challenging a new generation of engineers to perform realistic missions in a demanding underwater environment. The primary emphases of the competition are education and career preparation. Students gain an appreciation for the trade-offs inherent in any system design as well as lessons learned in transitioning from working bench prototype to operating reliably in the real world.

International Aerial Robotics Competition (IARC)

August 5-8, 2013

Grand Forks, ND

www.foundation.org/iarc

The AUVSI Foundation’s longest running event, the IARC, requires collegiate teams to create fully autonomous flying robots capable of negotiating urban warfare situations. The IARC allows student teams to prepare for challenges that have robotic applications highly relevant to defense-oriented programs.

Maritime RobotX Challenge (launching in 2014)

The Maritime RobotX Challenge, sponsored by the U.S. Office of Naval Research and run by the AUVSI Foundation, consists of nationally sponsored student teams. Teams utilize a standard maritime platform, which they will outfit with sensors, computers, and software. The vehicles will be required to complete a course that will focus on behaviors that are required to conduct a variety of maritime surface vehicle missions, using GPS navigation, vision, and other sensor inputs. The first competition will be held in Singapore in late 2014 and will consist of teams from Pacific Rim countries. 

To learn more about sponsoring or recruiting at any or all of these events, please contact Pamela Smith at smith@auvsifoundation.org.