RoboSub

RoboSub is a competition whose goal is to advance the development of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) by challenging a new generation of engineers to perform realistic missions in an underwater environment. It was launched in 1997 and is co-sponsored by the RoboNation (formerly the AUVSI Foundation) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The event also serves to foster ties between young engineers and the organizations developing AUV technologies. The competition is open to high school and college teams from around the world. Since about 2002, it has been held each summer at the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific's TRANSDEC Anechoic pool in San Diego, California. In 2022, the competition took place at the University of Maryland, College Park.

There were no live competition winners in 2021 as the competition was held online. Instead, competitors were judged on submitted videos, reports, and website.^[1]

Year	1st place	2nd place	3rd place
2024	Si Se Puede Foundation	The Ohio State University	Cornell University
2023	National University of Singapore	BRAC University	University of Alberta
2022	National University of Singapore	Amador Valley High School	Carnegie Mellon University
2021	n/a	n/a	n/a
2020	Team Inspiration	Si Se Puede Foundation & Arizona State University	Tecnológico de Monterrey
2019	Harbin Engineering University	Far Eastern Federal University / Institute for Marine Technology Problems	Arizona State University Polytechnic
2018	Harbin Engineering University	National University of Singapore	École de Technologie Supérieure / California Institute of Technology (shared)
2017	Cornell University	Far Eastern Federal University	National University of Singapore
2016	California Institute of Technology	Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay	Cornell University
2015	San Diego State University	National University of Singapore	Maritime State University
2014	Cornell University	University of Florida	École de Technologie Supérieure
2013	Cornell University	University of Florida	Far Eastern Federal University
2012	Cornell University	University of Florida	École de Technologie Supérieure
2011	École de Technologie Supérieure	Cornell University	University of Florida
2010	Cornell University	U.S. Naval Academy	University of Maryland
2009	Cornell University	University of Victoria	University of Rhode Island
2008	University of Maryland	University of Texas at Dallas	École de Technologie Supérieure
2007	University of Florida	University of Rhode Island	École de Technologie Supérieure
2006	University of Florida	Duke University	École de Technologie Supérieure
2005	University of Florida	École de Technologie Supérieure	Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2004	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Cornell University	École de Technologie Supérieure
2003	Cornell University	École de Technologie Supérieure	Duke University
2002	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Cornell University	University of Florida
2001	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Amador Valley High School	University of Florida
2000	University of Rhode Island	Cornell University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (tie)	U.S. Naval Academy
1999	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	University of Florida	Florida Atlantic University
1998	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Stevens Institute of Technology	University of Florida

Autonomy Challenge Awards

1. National University of Singapore ($6,000)
2. Amador Valley High School Robotics ($3,000)
3. Carnegie Mellon University ($2,000)
4. University of Alberta ($1,500)^ARVP
5. École de Technologie Supérieure ($1,000)
6. Cornell University ($1,000)

Design Documentation

1. National University of Singapore ($1,000)
2. École de Technologie Supérieure ($750)
3. The Ohio State University ($500)
4. Underwater Robotics Club at NC State University
5. Vortex NTNU

Judges Special Awards

• Best Report ($500): Duke University
• Best Online Presentation ($500): Wroclaw University of Science and Technology
• Best Link of Competition Strategy to Design Objectives ($500): Autonomous Maritime Robotics Association at Embry-Riddle
• Best Third Chance ($500): Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
• Inter-vehicle Communications ($250): École de Technologie Supérieure

Per the Final Rules and Mission, "The fundamental goal of the mission is for an AUV to demonstrate its autonomy by completing an underwater Ides of TRANSDEC mission. The vehicle will be able to commence in training (dock/release buoys), pass over an obstacle course (PVC pipe to pass over), enter the gladiator ring (drop markers), Et tu Brute? (shoot torpedoes through a cutout), feed grapes to the emperor (manipulate a cylinder), and finally collect the Laurel wreath and crown the emperor (find a pinger, grab an object and move/release the object)."

Overall Winners

1. Team Inspiration -- $3,000
2. Si Se Puede Foundation & Arizona State University -- $2,000
3. Tecnológico de Monterrey -- $1,500
4. San Diego State University -- $1,000
5. Carnegie Mellon University -- $1,000
6. University of Alberta -- $1,000^ARVP

Video Winners

1. Tecnológico de Monterrey -- $1,000
2. Team Inspiration -- $800
3. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay -- $600
4. Si Se Puede Foundation & Arizona State University -- $400
5. San Diego State University -- $200

Technical Design Report Winners

1. Team Inspiration -- $1,000
2. California Institute of Technology -- $800
3. Si Se Puede Foundation & Arizona State University -- $600
4. Duke University -- $400
5. The Ohio State University -- $200

Website Winners

1. Team Inspiration -- $1,000
2. Si Se Puede Foundation & Arizona State University -- $800
3. Amador Valley High School -- $600
4. Tecnológico de Monterrey -- $400
5. École de Technologie Supérieure -- $200

Special Awards

• Holding Steady ($500): Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
• Newest Players ($500): Ain Shams University
• Pixelated RoboSub ($500): National University of Singapore

1. Harbin Engineering University -- $6,000
2. Far Eastern Federal University / Institute for Marine Technology Problems -- $4,000
3. Arizona State University Polytechnic -- $3,000
4. University of Alberta -- $2,000^ARVP
5. Cornell University -- $1,000

• Best Static Judging: National University of Singapore
• First to Pre-Qualify: University of Alberta^ARVP
• Most Inspirational: Team Inspiration
• Data Sharing: The Ohio State University
• Best Website: École de Technologie Supérieure
• Most Improved: California Institute of Technology
• Most Entertaining Video: The Center for Robotics Development

1. Harbin Engineering University -- $7,000
2. National University of Singapore -- $6,000
3. California Institute of Technology -- $2,500
4. École de Technologie Supérieure -- $2,500
5. Cornell University

1. Cornell University, USA ($4,500)
2. Far Eastern University/Institute for Marine Technology Problems, Russia ($4,000)
3. National University of Singapore, Singapore ($3,000)
4. Harbin Engineering University, China ($2,000)
5. Georgia Institute of Technology, USA ($1,000)

• Best PR: San Diego State University, USA ($1,000)^[4]

1. California Institute of Technology, $6,000
2. Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, $5,000
3. Cornell University, $2,000
4. G.I. Nevelskoy Maritime State University, $1,500
5. Kasetsart University & Chulalongkorn University, $1,500
6. Harbin Engineering University, $1,000
7. McGill University, $1,000

1. San Diego State University, $6,000^[5]
2. National University of Singapore, $4,000
3. Maritime State University, $3,000
4. California Institute of Technology, $1,000
5. University of Arizona: $1,000
6. Far Eastern Federal University, $1,000
7. Amador Valley High School, $1,000

1. Cornell University (awarded $10,000)^[6][7]
2. University of Florida (awarded $5,000)
3. Team SONIA - École de Technologie Supérieure (Canada) (awarded $1,000)
4. Far Eastern Federal University (Russian Federation) (awarded $1,000)
5. National University of Singapore (Singapore) (awarded $1,000)
6. Reykjavik University (Iceland)
7. California Institute of Technology
8. San Diego State University Mechatronics Club
9. Harbin Engineering University (China)
10. McGill University (Canada)
11. Daytona Beach Area Homeschoolers - Team S.S. Minnow
12. University of Arizona
13. Amador Valley High School
14. Mälardalen University (Sweden)
15. India Institute of Technology Madras (India)
16. University of Alberta (Canada)^ARVP
17. Kyushu Institute of Technology (Japan)
18. Kasetsart University (Thailand)
19. Carl Hayden High School - Falcon Robotics
20. Embry-Riddle Aerospace University
21. Palouse Robosub Club (Washington/Idaho)
22. San Diego City College
23. Prairie View A&M University
24. Nautilus
25. University of Maryland
26. India Institute of Technology Bombay (India)
27. Team Bangalore Robotics (India)
28. University of Colorado Boulder
29. San Diego City Robotics 101
30. University of Southern California
31. Istanbul Technical University (Turkey)
32. University of Toronto (Canada)
33. St. Georges School (Canada)
34. Delhi Technical University (India)
35. California Southern Polytechnic University
36. Ain Shams University (Egypt)
37. Montana State University
38. Southern Polytechnic State University (Georgia)
39. RoboEgypt (Egypt)

• Best New Entry: California Institute of Technology (awarded $500)
• Best Branding: McGill University (awarded $500)
• International Collaboration Team Bangalore Robotics (awarded $500)
• Mayor's Cup for Outreach: Team SONIA - École de Technologie Supérieure (Canada)(awarded $500)

1. Cornell University (awarded $8,000)^[8]
2. University of Florida (awarded $4,000)
3. Far Eastern Federal University (Russian Federation)(awarded $3,000)
4. University of Maryland (awarded $1,000)
5. Harbin Engineering University (China)(awarded $1,000)
6. Amador Valley High School
7. National University of Singapore (Singapore)
8. Carl Hayden High School - Falcon Robotics

• Best Static Judging: Team SONIA - École de Technologie Supérieure (Canada)(awarded $500)
• Best Journal Paper: Cornell University (awarded $500)
• Best Bang for the Buck: Daytona Beach Area Homeschoolers - Team S.S. Minnow (awarded $500)
• Best New Entry: National University of Singapore (Singapore)(awarded $500)
• Best Outreach Programs: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, North Carolina State University, Carl Hayden High School (awarded $500 each)

1. Cornell University (awarded $8,000)^[9]
2. University of Florida (awarded $4,000)
3. Team SONIA - École de Technologie Supérieure (Canada)(awarded $3,000)
4. Harbin Engineering University (China)(awarded $1,000)
5. Far Eastern Federal University (Russian Federation)(awarded $1,000)
6. University of Maryland (awarded $1,000)

• Static Judging: Cornell University
• Craftsmanship: Mälardalen University
• Best new entry: Far Eastern Federal University
• Gladiator challenge: University of Central Florida
• Mayor's Cup for Community Outreach: San Diego City College

1. ETS Team SONIA (awarded $7,000)
2. Cornell University (awarded $4000)
3. University of Florida (awarded $3,000)
4. Reykjavik University (awarded $2,000)
5. University of Maryland (awarded $500)
6. University of Rhode Island ($500)
7. United States Naval Academy
8. North Carolina State

• Mayor's Cup for Community Outreach: Carl Hayden High School (awarded $1,000)
• Second Chance Award: University of Central Florida (awarded $1,000)
• Outstanding Technical Mentorship: University of Maryland ($500)
• Hardware is Hard Award: Utah State University (awarded $500)
• Innovation on a Budget Award: Mesa College
• Best Paper Award: Kyushu University

1. Cornell ($6,000 Prize)
2. U.S. Naval Academy ($5,000)
3. University of Maryland ($2,250)
4. ETS ($1,750)
5. Amador Valley High School ($1,000)
6. University of Texas at Dallas ($1,000)
7. Kyushu Institute of Technology ($1,000)

• University of Central Florida: Second Chance Award ($,1000)
• San Diego City College: Best Group Presentation ($500)
• Reykjavik University: Determination Award ($500)

1. Cornell University ($10K)
2. University of Victoria ($4K)
3. University of Rhode Island ($3K)
4. UCF
5. U Texas @ Dallas
6. USC
7. FAU
8. U Maryland
9. Kyushu Institute of Tech
10. ETS
11. Amador
12. iBotics
13. US Naval Academy
14. Delhi College of Engineering
15. SDCR
16. NC State U
17. Saint George's
18. VT
19. U Toronto MDA
20. U Florida
21. ARVP
22. MIT
23. SPSU
24. Embry Riddle
25. KAIST
26. UWF
27. U Ottawa
28. Pacific Nautilus
29. U Colorado @ Denver
30. McGill U

Best New Team: St. Georges ($1000) Most with the Least: Florida Atlantic University ($500) Best technical paper: Kyushu ($500) TSA Award: Embry Riddle ($500) (vehicle was significantly damaged in shipping by the TSA)

1. University of Maryland
2. University of Texas at Dallas
3. École de technologie supérieure
4. University of Florida
5. United States Naval Academy
6. University of Victoria
7. Cornell University
8. Florida Atlantic University
9. Delhi College of Engineering
10. San Diego City College
11. San Diego iBotics
12. University of Ottawa
13. Amador Valley High School
14. Southern Methodist University
15. University of Southern California
16. Georgia Tech
17. University of Alberta^ARVP
18. University of Colorado at Boulder
19. Kyushu Institute of Technology
20. Universite Laval
21. Southern Polytechnic State University
22. University of West Florida
23. University of Wisconsin
24. North Carolina State University
25. Norwich University

1. University of Florida, USA
2. University of Rhode Island, Dept. of Ocean Engineering, USA
3. École de Technologie Supérieure, CANADA
4. Cornell University, USA
5. University of Central Florida, USA
6. University of Southern California, USA
7. United States Naval Academy, USA
8. Southern Polytechnic State University, USA
9. Pacific Nautilus San Diego City College, USA
10. University of Maryland, USA
11. Southern Methodist University, USA
12. Smurphs Pair, Home School, USA
13. Amador Valley High School Robotics Club, USA
14. University of Colorado at Denver, USA
15. NW AUV Fellowship, USA
16. University of Victoria, CANADA
17. Virginia Tech AUVT, USA
18. University of Ottawa, CANADA
19. Duke University, USA
20. University of Texas at Dallas, USA
21. Delhi College of Engineering, INDIA
22. Georgia Tech, USA
23. San Diego iBotics AUV, USA
24. University of Toronto, CANADA
25. MIT, USA
26. North Carolina State University, USA
27. Kyushu Institute of Technology, JAPAN

1. University of Florida
2. Duke University
3. Ecole de technologie superieure
4. University of Rhode Island
5. University of Texas at Dallas
6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
7. Cornell University
8. University of Central Florida
9. North Carolina State University
10. Southern Polytechnic State University
11. University of Toronto
12. Virginia Tech
13. University of Ottawa
14. University of Victoria
15. Amador Valley High School
16. Georgia Tech
17. San Diego City College
18. University of Colorado Denver
19. University of Southern California
20. Kyushu Institute of Technology
21. Indian Underwater Robotics Society

• Best New Entry - University of Toronto
• Best New Design - University of Central Florida

1. University of Florida
2. Ecole de Technologie Superieure
3. MIT
4. Duke University
5. Amador Valley High School
6. University of Rhode Island
7. University of Southern California
8. Cornell University
9. University of Colorado at Denver
10. Southern Polytechnic State University
11. University of Texas at Dallas
12. Georgia Tech - Marine Robotics Society
13. University of Central Florida
14. Virginia Tech
15. University of Ottawa
16. University of Victoria
17. DeVry
18. North Carolina State University
19. Indian Underwater Robotics Society

• No Guts No Glory: Ecole de Technologie Superieure
• Docking Dollars: Duke University
• Best New Entry: Georgia Tech - Marine Robotics Society

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2. Cornell University
3. Ecole de technologie superieure
4. University of Rhode Island
5. Duke University
6. University of Ottawa
7. University of Florida
8. Amador Valley High School
9. University of Texas at Dallas
10. University of Victoria
11. Virginia Tech
12. Pacific Northwest AUV Fellowship
13. San Diego State University
14. University of Colorado at Denver
15. University of Central Florida
16. Southern Polytechnic State University
17. Brigham Young University - Hawaii
18. University Southern California

• Best Newcomer: University of Ottawa
• Lightest Entry: Brigham Young University - Hawaii
• Most Innovative: Duke University

1. Cornell University
2. Ecole de technologie superieure (Montreal)
3. Duke
4. MIT
5. Amador Valley High School
6. University of Rhode Island
7. Hammerhead AUV Fellowship
8. University of Florida
9. University of Colorado - Denver
10. University of Victoria
11. University of West Florida
12. Virginia Tech

1. MIT
2. Cornell University
3. University of Florida
4. Duke
5. Amador Valley High School
6. University of Rhode Island
7. Ecole de technologie superieure
8. Florida Atlantic University
9. Team Tortuga
10. U.S. Naval Academy
11. Saratoga and Monta Vista High Schools
12. University of Victoria
13. University of West Florida
14. University of Colorado - Denver
15. DeVry—Calgary

1. MIT
2. Amador Valley High School
3. University of Florida
4. University of Rhode Island
5. Cornell University
6. University of Colorado at Denver
7. Duke/North Carolina State Universities
8. Florida Atlantic University
9. U.S. Naval Academy
10. Monta Vista High School
11. Ecole de Technologie Superieure
12. Stevens Institute of Technology

• Good Neighbor Award: University of Colorado-Denver
• Bang for the Buck Award: Monta Vista High School
• Best New Entry: Duke and N.C. State Universities

1. University of Rhode Island
2. (tie) Cornell University and MIT
3. US Naval Academy
4. University of W. Florida
5. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
6. Amador Valley High School
7. University of Florida
8. Stevens Inst. of Technology
9. Florida Atlantic University
10. University of Colorado - Denver
11. Ecole de Technologie Superieure (Montreal)

1. MIT
2. University of Florida
3. Florida Atlantic University

• Honorable Mention: U.S. Naval Academy
• Honorable Mention: Stevens Institute of Technology

1. MIT
2. Stevens Institute of Technology
3. University of Florida
4. Johns Hopkins University

• RoboSub official site