--- title: Underwater Robot Competition Makes a Splash date: 2022-07-29T15:03:00-04:00 author: University of Maryland canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/underwater-robot-competition-makes-a-splash" section: Articles --- # Underwater Robot Competition Makes a Splash *July 29, 2022* — by [Annie Krakower](/author/annie-krakower) > UMD Hosts, Competes in 25th International RoboSub Event *Robo Sub 07292022 SC 9065 1920x1080 — Robotics @ Maryland President and Software Lead Josh Smith watches the Terp team’s robot, Qubo, during testing for the 25th RoboSub competition at the Eppley Recreation Center on Friday. Lt. Hannah Lee, one of the Navy Reserve members on hand to help during the event, treads in the pool.* Despite the distinct smell of chlorine and roped-off lanes at the Eppley Recreation Center, the student teams huddled along the edges of the pool aren’t here for any ordinary swim meet. Instead, a bundle of wires, propellers and sensors glides under the water, but doesn’t quite make it to the hovering gate in front of it or the other surrounding obstacles. A diver in flippers and a snorkel has to grab it and hook it up to a small crane to surface. It’s all part of the 25th running of [RoboSub](https://robosub.org/), an international competition that challenges student teams to design and build robotic submarines—also known as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs)—that can complete a series of tasks while submerged. [Robotics @ Maryland](https://robotics-at-maryland.gitlab.io/website/), the University of Maryland’s team, was among 39 groups participating through Tuesday. The team made it to the semifinals over the weekend when an equipment problem hampered communication with their sub during testing. After taking place for several years in San Diego and then shifting online during COVID-19, the annual event was held for the first time at UMD. “It’s been very exciting to host,” said Dillon Capalongo ’24, Robotics @ Maryland’s mechanical lead. “Everyone who’s been helping volunteer has been supporting us, saying, ‘Go Terps! This is our school!’” UMD has placed highly in the competition in the past, including winning it in 2008. This year marks the team’s RoboSub return since the pandemic began, and its robot, [Qubo](https://robotics-at-maryland.gitlab.io/website/html/qubo.html), took the plunge. Qubo, which debuted in the 2017 competition, is smaller, more mobile and more modular than its predecessor, Tortuga IV, Capalongo said. Tweaks over the years have further streamlined the bot, with the team—around 30 Terps from a variety of majors—developing and practicing with it in the [Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility](https://research.umd.edu/capabilities/core-facilities/neutral-buoyancy-research-facility-nbrf), the only such tank in the world on a college campus. *Students work on a robot — From left, Josh Smith, Mustafa Khan and Rainier Hood re-solder a loose tether connection on their robot, Qubo, in the Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility on Friday before its qualifying round.* **Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community) **Tags:** [Academic Competitions](https://today.umd.edu/topic/academic-competitions), [Aerospace Engineering](https://today.umd.edu/topic/aerospace-engineering), [Robotics](https://today.umd.edu/topic/robotics), [Conferences and Visitor Services](https://today.umd.edu/topic/conferences-and-visitor-services) **Units:** [A. James Clark School of Engineering](https://today.umd.edu/topic/james-clark-school-engineering), [University Recreation and Wellness](https://today.umd.edu/topic/university-recreation-and-wellness)