The ETSU Underwater Robotics team, also known as the ETSU Buccaneers, is an ETSU-sponsored student organization that competes in the MATE ROV Competition, an annual international underwater robotics competition. These competitions involve piloting Remotely Operated Vehicles, or ROVs, deep into the water to complete certain tasks, with themes such as climate change, invasive species, and marine renewable energy. These simulated tasks all have real world uses. In a real scenario, it is much safer to send a ROV to fix a deep-water structure rather than a human diver. A diver has limited oxygen, and there are many risks associated with diving. An ROV, however, is operated from the surface and does not have the same risk factors.
Helping the environment is not only done with the ROV; we have also collaborated with the Student Environmental Health Association and cleaned up the banks of the Watauga River at Sycamore Shoals State Historical Park. Cleaning the rivers ensures that local aquatic wildlife has a safe place to live. Preserving waterways like the Watauga River or even the oceans is vital, as there is so much life that thrives within the waters. The oceans cover around 70% of the Earth’s surface but are still largely unknown and unexplored.
The group also helps the community by mentoring other local high school underwater robotics teams. Making sure to mentor these teams is very important, as these are the people that will potentially join a college team and maybe even choose to build ROVs as a career. The MATE ROV Competition is all about coming together and innovating, and this is easily achieved by working with these other teams. Coming together is not exclusively a MATE ROV Competition trait, as is apparent by the help of the ETSU Student Government Association. Their support has allowed us to make waves in this competition and help our community. Follow them Instagram at @bucs_rov for updates and to follow them to Alpena, Michigan, for the World Championship.
Underwater robotics (Contributed/BUCS_ROV Instagram)
