Interest in intelligent machines is growing and an international competition to build autonomous robotic systems that operate at sea has come to Â鶹´«Ã½.
hosts the 2016 at Sand Island December 11–18. Students from 13 universities around the world, including first-timer , will compete for $100,000 in prizes. Organizers say the best days for the public to attend are December 17 and 18, for hands on STEM activities.
“It’s a unique opportunity for Â鶹´«Ã½ and Â鶹´«Ã½’s students to participate in such a prestigious competition,” said UH Mānoa Engineering Assistant Professor .
The first Maritime RobotX Challenge was held in Singapore in 2014. The competition is designed to foster student interest in autonomous robotic systems, with an emphasis on science and engineering.
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UH Mānoa student Richard Eidswick noted,“Going through the whole process of designing something, analyzing it and bringing it actually into existence has been a wonderful experience.”
Student teams are required to use a common boat platform. They must outfit it with sensors, power, electrical propulsion, electronics, communications and software in order to complete a number of maritime related tasks autonomously.
UH Mānoa student and project leader Aaron Nagamine said the project is exciting and is helping to prepare the students for the real world. “Working on something that’s state of the art, that can impact the future, that’s a huge benefit for us.”
The Â鶹´«Ã½ competition was organized by and , with funding support from the and signature sponsor .
