RoboNation ‘RoboSub’ Robotics Competition and UMD Robotics Open Houses on July 29

The original international autonomous underwater vehicle student competition hosted at the University of Maryland

MEDIA ADVISORY  July 22, 2022

CONTACT:
Rebecca Copeland
301 405 6602
rebeccac@umd.edu

RoboNation's RoboSub Competition

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Join us for the 25th RoboSub Competition and Media Day on Friday, July 29, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

WHY: The University of Maryland (UMD) is the venue for RoboNation’s RoboSub competition at the Eppley Recreation Center’s Aquatic Center on campus in College Park. As a bonus, UMD’s Maryland Robotics Center will host three robotics lab open houses from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Brin Family Aerial Robotics Lab, the Robotics and Automation Lab, and the Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility.

WHAT: RoboSub is an advanced robotics competition for students. Teams from around the world design and build robotic submarines—specifically autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). The behaviors demonstrated by these experimental AUVs mimic those of real-world systems currently deployed around the world for underwater exploration, seafloor mapping, sonar localization, and many other purposes. This year, for RoboSub’s 25th anniversary, 39 teams and more than 40 AUVs from 11 countries will be competing. The event spans six days as the AUVs navigate six tasks on four courses.

RoboSub is made possible through the generous support of RoboNation sponsors and partners: the Office of Naval Research, Blue Origin, Blue Robotics, Blue Trail Engineering, Bulgin, LGH, MathWorks, Siemens, 3DS SolidWorks, Teledyne Marine and UMD’s Maryland Robotics Center.

Maryland Robotics Center open houses from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

The Brin Family Aerial Robotics Lab tests flying and ground robotic platforms and is located on the ground floor of the Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering. The lab has a 15 ft.-high, 430 sq.ft. netted area for safe quadcopter tests, a state-of-the-art Vicon motion capture system, and a workbench with tools for supporting and maintaining drones.

The Robotics and Automation Lab is a multi-functional space on the third floor of the new E.A. Fernandez IDEA Factory. This lab is a shared research and education facility supporting mobile robotics research, robotics prototyping and manufacturing, and optical inspection equipment.

The Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility is one of only a few neutral buoyancy testing tanks in the United States and the largest on a university campus. This world-class resource also features underwater motion capture. It is used to simulate microgravity space environments, directly test underwater robotics, and train student teams.

WHO:  RoboNation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide a pathway of hands-on educational experiences that empower students to find innovative solutions to global challenges. The pathway begins with SeaPerch and includes autonomous vehicle competitions in all domains, including the Student UAS (SUAS) competition and RoboSub. All three of these competitions are hosted at University of Maryland facilities this summer.

The nationally recognized UMD Maryland Robotics Center is a highly respected home for robotics education and research. The center has more than 40 participating faculty members from eight academic departments in engineering and computer science.

WHEN: Friday, July 29, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Masks and advance notification are required. 

WHERE: 

RoboNation RoboSub Competition

Eppley Recreation Center’s Aquatic Center, 4128 Valley Drive, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742.

Parking: Visitor parking is available in the Terrapin Trail Parking Garage; fee is $20/day. Please follow this link for additional parking details and this link to an interactive campus map.

Maryland Robotics Center Lab Open Houses

The Brin Family Aerial Robotics Lab, Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering, 8125 Paint Branch Drive, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742.

The Robotics and Automation Lab is on the third floor of the E.A. Fernandez IDEA Factory, 4462 Stadium Drive on campus.

The Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility, Building 382, is located on Technology Drive on campus. Please note, this is a three-story building with stairs only—there is no elevator.

Parking: Separate permits for lots near the Iribe Center and IDEA Factory are available for media visiting the open houses.

See map here.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Use this link to register your organization’s interest in attending and covering the event. 

About the A. James Clark School of Engineering

The University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering is a premier program, ranked among the top 20 in the world. Located just a few miles from Washington, D.C., the Clark School is at the center of a constellation of high-tech companies and federal laboratories, offering students and faculty access to unique professional opportunities.

Our broad spectrum of academic programs, including the world’s only accredited undergraduate fire protection engineering program, is complemented by a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, early hands-on educational experiences, and participation in national and international competitions.

The Clark School is leading research advancements in aerospace, bioengineering, robotics, nanotechnology, disaster resilience, energy and sustainability, and cybersecurity. From the universal product code to satellite radio, SMS text messaging to the implantable insulin pump, our students, faculty, and alumni are engineering life-changing innovations for millions. Learn more at www.eng.umd.edu.