About the Competition
10th Annual International Student ROV Competition
The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center coordinates an international student ROV competition and a network of regional ROV contests that take place across U.S. and in Canada, Hong Kong, and Scotland. Student teams participate in the events, which consist of different “classes” that vary depending on the sophistication of the ROVs and the mission requirements.
In addition to being fun and educational, these competitions connect students and educators with employers and working professionals from marine industries, highlight marine-related career opportunities, and promote the development of technical, problem solving, critical thinking, and teamwork skills necessary for careers in marine technology.
This Year's Theme: ROVs Role in The Offshore Oil and Gas Industries
This year’s competition theme highlights the role that ROVs play in the offshore oil and gas industry and focuses on the challenges that they faced during the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The mission tasks include removing a damaged riser pipe, capping a wellhead, collecting a water sample, measuring depth, and sampling organisms.
2011 marks the 10th year of international competition. The event is being hosted by the Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL) at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas June 16 – 18, 2011.
Competition Components
Each year the competition focuses on a new theme in order to expose students and educators to the many different aspects of the ocean workplace and the scientific and technological advancements that are taking place.
Regardless of the theme, the competition consists of the following components:
- Underwater mission tasks
- Technical reports
- Engineering presentations
- Poster displays
