RoboSub is a competition whose goal is to advance the development of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) by challenging a new generation of engineers to perform realistic missions in an underwater environment. It was launched in 1997 and is co-sponsored by the RoboNation (formerly the AUVSI Foundation) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The event also serves to foster ties between young engineers and the organizations developing AUV technologies. The competition is open to high school and college teams from around the world. Since about 2002, it has been held each summer at the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific's TRANSDEC Anechoic pool in San Diego, California. In 2022, the competition took place at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Winners by year
There were no live competition winners in 2021 as the competition was held online. Instead, competitors were judged on submitted videos, reports, and website.
Year 1st place 2nd place 3rd place2025National University of SingaporeThe Ohio State UniversityMcGill University2024Si Se Puede FoundationThe Ohio State UniversityCornell University2023National University of SingaporeBRAC UniversityUniversity of Alberta2022National University of SingaporeAmador Valley High SchoolCarnegie Mellon University2021n/an/an/a2020Team InspirationSi Se Puede Foundation & Arizona State UniversityTecnológico de Monterrey2019Harbin Engineering UniversityFar Eastern Federal University / Institute for Marine Technology ProblemsArizona State University Polytechnic2018Harbin Engineering UniversityNational University of SingaporeÉcole de Technologie Supérieure / California Institute of Technology (shared)2017Cornell UniversityFar Eastern Federal UniversityNational University of Singapore2016California Institute of TechnologyIndian Institute of Technology, BombayCornell University 2015 San Diego State University National University of Singapore Maritime State University 2014 Cornell University University of Florida École de Technologie Supérieure 2013 Cornell University University of Florida Far Eastern Federal University 2012 Cornell University University of Florida École de Technologie Supérieure 2011 École de Technologie Supérieure Cornell University University of Florida 2010 Cornell University U.S. Naval Academy University of Maryland 2009 Cornell University University of Victoria University of Rhode Island 2008 University of Maryland University of Texas at Dallas École de Technologie Supérieure 2007 University of Florida University of Rhode Island École de Technologie Supérieure 2006 University of Florida Duke University École de Technologie Supérieure 2005 University of Florida École de Technologie Supérieure Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2004 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cornell University École de Technologie Supérieure 2003 Cornell University École de Technologie Supérieure Duke University 2002 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cornell University University of Florida 2001 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Amador Valley High School University of Florida 2000 University of Rhode Island Cornell University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (tie) U.S. Naval Academy 1999 Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Florida Florida Atlantic University 1998 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Stevens Institute of Technology University of Florida
Detailed competition history
1998
MIT Stevens Institute of Technology University of Florida Johns Hopkins University
1999
MIT University of Florida Florida Atlantic University
Honorable Mention: U.S. Naval Academy Honorable Mention: Stevens Institute of Technology
2000
University of Rhode Island (tie) Cornell University and MIT US Naval Academy University of W. Florida Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Amador Valley High School University of Florida Stevens Inst. of Technology Florida Atlantic University University of Colorado - Denver Ecole de Technologie Superieure (Montreal)
2001
MIT Amador Valley High School University of Florida University of Rhode Island Cornell University University of Colorado at Denver Duke/North Carolina State Universities Florida Atlantic University U.S. Naval Academy Monta Vista High School Ecole de Technologie Superieure Stevens Institute of Technology
Good Neighbor Award: University of Colorado-Denver Bang for the Buck Award: Monta Vista High School Best New Entry: Duke and N.C. State Universities
2002
MIT Cornell University University of Florida Duke Amador Valley High School University of Rhode Island Ecole de technologie superieure Florida Atlantic University Team Tortuga U.S. Naval Academy Saratoga and Monta Vista High Schools University of Victoria University of West Florida University of Colorado - Denver DeVry—Calgary
2003
Cornell University Ecole de technologie superieure (Montreal) Duke MIT Amador Valley High School University of Rhode Island Hammerhead AUV Fellowship University of Florida University of Colorado - Denver University of Victoria University of West Florida Virginia Tech
2004
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cornell University Ecole de technologie superieure University of Rhode Island Duke University University of Ottawa University of Florida Amador Valley High School University of Texas at Dallas University of Victoria Virginia Tech Pacific Northwest AUV Fellowship San Diego State University University of Colorado at Denver University of Central Florida Southern Polytechnic State University Brigham Young University - Hawaii University Southern California
Best Newcomer: University of Ottawa Lightest Entry: Brigham Young University - Hawaii Most Innovative: Duke University
2005
University of Florida Ecole de Technologie Superieure MIT Duke University Amador Valley High School University of Rhode Island University of Southern California Cornell University University of Colorado at Denver Southern Polytechnic State University University of Texas at Dallas Georgia Tech - Marine Robotics Society University of Central Florida Virginia Tech University of Ottawa University of Victoria DeVry North Carolina State University Indian Underwater Robotics Society
No Guts No Glory: Ecole de Technologie Superieure Docking Dollars: Duke University Best New Entry: Georgia Tech - Marine Robotics Society
2006
University of Florida Duke University Ecole de technologie superieure University of Rhode Island University of Texas at Dallas Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cornell University University of Central Florida North Carolina State University Southern Polytechnic State University University of Toronto Virginia Tech University of Ottawa University of Victoria Amador Valley High School Georgia Tech San Diego City College University of Colorado Denver University of Southern California Kyushu Institute of Technology Indian Underwater Robotics Society
Best New Entry - University of Toronto Best New Design - University of Central Florida
2007
University of Florida, USA University of Rhode Island, Dept. of Ocean Engineering, USA École de Technologie Supérieure, CANADA Cornell University, USA University of Central Florida, USA University of Southern California, USA United States Naval Academy, USA Southern Polytechnic State University, USA Pacific Nautilus San Diego City College, USA University of Maryland, USA Southern Methodist University, USA Smurphs Pair, Home School, USA Amador Valley High School Robotics Club, USA University of Colorado at Denver, USA NW AUV Fellowship, USA University of Victoria, CANADA Virginia Tech AUVT, USA University of Ottawa, CANADA Duke University, USA University of Texas at Dallas, USA Delhi College of Engineering, INDIA Georgia Tech, USA San Diego iBotics AUV, USA University of Toronto, CANADA MIT, USA North Carolina State University, USA Kyushu Institute of Technology, JAPAN
2008
University of Maryland University of Texas at Dallas École de technologie supérieure University of Florida United States Naval Academy University of Victoria Cornell University Florida Atlantic University Delhi College of Engineering San Diego City College San Diego iBotics University of Ottawa Amador Valley High School Southern Methodist University University of Southern California Georgia Tech University of Alberta ARVP University of Colorado at Boulder Kyushu Institute of Technology Universite Laval Southern Polytechnic State University University of West Florida University of Wisconsin North Carolina State University Norwich University
2009
Cornell University ($10K) University of Victoria ($4K) University of Rhode Island ($3K) UCF U Texas @ Dallas USC FAU U Maryland Kyushu Institute of Tech ETS Amador iBotics US Naval Academy Delhi College of Engineering SDCR NC State U Saint George's VT U Toronto MDA U Florida ARVP MIT SPSU Embry Riddle KAIST UWF U Ottawa Pacific Nautilus U Colorado @ Denver McGill U
Best New Team: St. Georges ($1000) Most with the Least: Florida Atlantic University ($500) Best technical paper: Kyushu ($500) TSA Award: Embry Riddle ($500) (vehicle was significantly damaged in shipping by the TSA)
2010
Cornell ($6,000 Prize) U.S. Naval Academy ($5,000) University of Maryland ($2,250) ETS ($1,750) Amador Valley High School ($1,000) University of Texas at Dallas ($1,000) Kyushu Institute of Technology ($1,000)
University of Central Florida: Second Chance Award ($,1000) San Diego City College: Best Group Presentation ($500) Reykjavik University: Determination Award ($500)
2011
ETS Team SONIA (awarded $7,500) Cornell University (awarded $3,000) University of Florida (awarded $2,500) University of Maryland ($1,500) University of Victoria ($1,000) University of Texas at Dallas ($1,000) Florida Atlantic University ($500) University of Central Florida ($500) University of Rhode Island ($500)
2012
Cornell University ($7,000) University of Maryland ($5,000) University of Florida ($3,000) ETS ($2,000) Georgia Tech ($1,000) Purdue University ($1,000) University of Texas at Dallas ($1,000) University of Victoria ($1,000) Florida Atlantic University ($500) RoboNation ($500)
2013
Cornell University Georgia Tech University of Florida University of Maryland University of Rhode Island Purdue University University of Texas at Dallas ETS University of Victoria University of Arizona
2014
Cornell University Georgia Tech University of Florida University of Maryland Purdue University University of Alberta ETS University of Arizona University of Victoria Florida Atlantic University
2015 https://robosub.org/2015/07/16/2015-final-standings/
Final Standings
1st Place ($6,000): San Diego State University
2nd Place ($4,000): National University of Singapore
3rd Place ($3,000): Maritime State University
4th Place ($1,000): California Institute of Technology
5th Place ($1,000): University of Arizona
6th Place ($1,000): Far Eastern Federal University
7th Place ($1,000): Amador Valley High School
Judges Awards
Innovation on a Budget ($500): San Diego Robotics 101
Innovation on a Budget ($500): Southern Polytechnic State University
No Guts No Glory ($500): Carl Hayden High School
Pay it Forward ($500): Montana State University
Best Performance ($500): Amador Valley High School
Best Marketing Integration ($500): McGill University
2016
Cornell University University of Florida University of Alberta Georgia Tech Purdue University ETS University of Maryland University of Victoria California Institute of Technology
2017
Cornell University University of Florida University of Alberta ETS Purdue University Georgia Tech University of Rhode Island University of Maryland University of Victoria Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University