Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland

Eastern Edge Robotics, a group composed of Memorial University students enrolled in science, technology, engineering and math disciplines will be competing for the 11^th consecutive year in the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center’s 12^th annual International Student ROV Competition.

Teams from around the globe will be in Seattle, Washington from June 20-22 to showcase their Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV), a type of underwater robot designed to accomplish specific mission tasks related to real-life scenarios.

The theme for this year’s competition focuses on the importance of Ocean Observation Systems, and the role ROVs play in the installation, operation, and maintenance of cabled underwater observatories. These observatories provide continuous information about many different elements of the ocean and have been used to predict weather for the past two decades.

The system being simulated is located on the Juan De Fuca Plate, just outside of the greater Seattle shorelines. Systems such as this provide comprehensive information regarding climate, biological productivity, sea level changes and many other ocean details. A similar wireless observatory system called Smart Bay is located in Newfoundland and Labrador. The system is a series of communications buoys in Placentia Bay.

Teams will participate in mission tasks such as piloting their ROV to install a power and communications hub and other scientific instruments on the seafloor in order to complete an ocean observatory. In addition to being evaluated for the mission, teams must also prepare an engineering report, make a presentation to a panel of judges and create a poster display. To accomplish this, teams are encouraged to replicate an “engineering firm” where students assume the roles of entrepreneurs.

“These projects develop teamwork, creative thinking, and problem solving skills that are essential in today’s modern workforce,” said Justin Higdon, CEO, Eastern Edge Robotics team.

Eastern Edge Robotics would like to thank major sponsors: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Statoil, Exxon Mobil, Hibernia, Husky, Suncor Energy, GRI Simulations, SubSea 7, MATE Center, Memorial University and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Special thanks are also extended to the mentors and family members of the team for their continued support.