Desert WAVE (Women in Autonomous Vehicle Engineering)

In an exciting move, an Arizona State University (ASU) faculty member teamed up with the VP of STEM Initiatives at the Si Se Puede Foundation to create a groundbreaking all-women collegiate robotics team called Desert WAVE (Women in Autonomous Vehicle Engineering).

The team name "Desert WAVE" reflects both their origins in the Sonoran Desert and their mission to disrupt the male-dominated engineering field. By "making waves," they aspire to motivate future generations of women in engineering and challenge existing norms.

A vital contributor to this initiative was a retired coach from Falcon Robotics, a highly regarded name in the robotics community. To foster collaboration and mentorship, Falcon Robotics generously donated their old submarine to the Desert WAVE team. This invaluable gift allowed the team to take apart the submarine, providing hands-on experience with its construction and functionality.

Over the next several months, Desert WAVE focused on designing and constructing a completely new submarine, named "Phoenix." This name signifies their connection to Phoenix, Arizona, and embodies the story of a phoenix rising from its ashes. Essentially, their new submarine represents rebirth and creativity, stemming from the legacy of the old Falcon Robotics submarine.

Read the complete story at EngineerGirl - Desert WAVE (Women in Autonomous Vehicle Engineering)