UCF’s Robotics Club is one of eight university teams meeting in Virginia Beach, VA for the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International/Office of Naval Research second international surface vehicle competition. The event began on June 18.
Prior to departure, the eight-member team spent last-minute hours at the pond next to IST’s Partnership II building, working out the bugs and adding what they hope were final programming touches.
“I think we have a good chance of bringing home another UCF victory this weekend,” said the team’s captain Ross Kerley. Success, according to Kerley, will be “due to the hard work and innovations of the robotics team.” Team members have invested countless hours in the vehicle’s design, fabrication and programming.
The 4.5-foot pontooned “S.S. Boatname” will rely solely on the program to navigate itself through the series of challenges set by competition organizers.
The team—IST’s Daniel Barber is faculty advisor—completely redesigned the watercraft for this year’s competition, based on lessons learned last year in San Diego. At that contest predecessor “Son of a Boatname” brought back top honors and $8,000 in prize money.
According to team documents, the S.S. Boatname is larger and more maneuverable than last year’s entry. The team designed electronic and mechanical components to be more accessible in the field. A wireless interface allows remote access to the computer components.
“I think we have a good chance of bringing home another UCF victory this weekend,” said the team’s captain Ross Kerley. Success, according to Kerley, will be “due to the hard work and innovations of the robotics team.” Team members have invested countless hours in the vehicle’s design, fabrication and programming.
Other team members are Mike Podel, Cassondra Puklavage, Chris Bunty, Travis Goldberg, Justin Wiseman, Brian Valentino and Jonathan Mohlenhoff. Gary Stein is graduate advisor.
For more visit IST at UCF.