Teamwork among students and robots wins international competition

Desert WAVE, a remarkable team of aspiring engineers from the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, made headlines at the 27th International RoboSub Competition in Irvine, California. This all-women team is on a mission to empower young women in the field of autonomous vehicle engineering. Their recent victory highlights the significant impact that collaboration and innovation can have in achieving ambitious goals.

Competing against an impressive lineup of 41 teams from eight different countries, Desert WAVE stood out and secured first place. The team members, including Paulina Garibay Jaquez, Nancy Esquivel Vazquez, Katherine Vasudev, Gabriela Hernandez, Natali Rodriguez, Litzi Matancillas, and Jacqueline Villanueva Castro, showcased their creativity by tackling the competition’s challenges in a unique way.

In the expansive world of the oceans, industrial underwater robots are essential. They perform crucial tasks such as exploration, mapping, and repair of underwater infrastructure. At the 2024 competition, each team was tasked with designing robots capable of navigating obstacles, tracking objects, launching torpedoes, and collecting important research samples.

Desert WAVE adopted an innovative approach by deploying two robots, cleverly named Dragon and Baby Dragon. This strategy not only demonstrated creativity but also set them apart as one of the few teams to attempt such a daring dual robot operation. The concept sprang from the ASU Underwater Robotics Camp, where team mentor Daniel Frank guided high school students, inspiring them in their engineering paths.

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