Central Florida Breezes to First Place in Robotic Boat Competition held in Hampton Roads
Posted By HR Partnership on September 3, 2009
Defending champions the University of Central Florida endured a gusty, wind-hampered environment to take first place in the Second International Autonomous Surface Vehicle competition 21 June. The event, cosponsored by the AUVSI Foundation and the U.S. Office of Naval Research, was held at the Founder’s Inn and Spa in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Seven teams attempted the very challenging mission, where a simulated overturned passenger ferry needed the aid of the autonomous surface vehicle (ASV). The student-built boats were also required to compete in a speed trial, followed by navigating a winding set of buoys and then dock with a fixed object in the lake. Once that had been completed, the ASV would fend off would-be pirates by firing a water cannon at a target and then attempt to secure a floating life ring and return to its starting point.
As if the course was not challenging enough, the unexpectedly high winds during the competition wreaked havoc on the boats as well as on the obstacles and elements of the competition that were on the water. The wind forced the organizers and the teams to adapt on the fly, as often happens in the real world.
With the support of AUVSI’s Hampton Roads Chapter, the event was an unequivocal success and drew the attention of the naval-oriented and technology rich Hampton Roads community. Plans are currently underway to hold the 2010 ASV competition at the same venue.
For video recaps of each competition day and to view the video of the finals, please visit the ASV competition Web site at: http://www.auvsi.org/competitions/surface.cfm.
The AUVSI Foundation would like to thank the sponsors for this year’s event, which include Insitu, DRS, AAI Corp. and Bosh Global Services.
Final Standings:
- University Of Central Florida
- University of Rhode Island
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Virginia Tech
- Florida Atlantic University
- University of Toronto
- University of Michigan
Read more online at Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International’s website: auvsi.org/publications.
Follow-up from original post: http://smartregion.org/2009/06/student-built-robotic-boats-to-compete-in-virginia-beach/
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