RoboSub

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.^[1]

Year	1st place	2nd place	3rd place
2025	National University of Singapore	The Ohio State University	McGill University
2024	Si Se Puede Foundation	The Ohio State University	Cornell University
2023	National University of Singapore	BRAC University	University of Alberta
2022	National University of Singapore	Amador Valley High School	Carnegie Mellon University
2021	n/a	n/a	n/a
2020	Team Inspiration	Si Se Puede Foundation & Arizona State University	Tecnológico de Monterrey
2019	Harbin Engineering University	Far Eastern Federal University / Institute for Marine Technology Problems	Arizona State University Polytechnic
2018	Harbin Engineering University	National University of Singapore	École de Technologie Supérieure / California Institute of Technology (shared)
2017	Cornell University	Far Eastern Federal University	National University of Singapore
2016	California Institute of Technology	Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay	Cornell 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

1. MIT
2. Stevens Institute of Technology
3. University of Florida
4. Johns Hopkins University

1999

1. MIT
2. University of Florida
3. Florida Atlantic University

• Honorable Mention: U.S. Naval Academy
• Honorable Mention: Stevens Institute of Technology

2000

1. University of Rhode Island
2. (tie) Cornell University and MIT
3. US Naval Academy
4. University of W. Florida
5. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
6. Amador Valley High School
7. University of Florida
8. Stevens Inst. of Technology
9. Florida Atlantic University
10. University of Colorado - Denver
11. Ecole de Technologie Superieure (Montreal)

2001

1. MIT
2. Amador Valley High School
3. University of Florida
4. University of Rhode Island
5. Cornell University
6. University of Colorado at Denver
7. Duke/North Carolina State Universities
8. Florida Atlantic University
9. U.S. Naval Academy
10. Monta Vista High School
11. Ecole de Technologie Superieure
12. 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

1. MIT
2. Cornell University
3. University of Florida
4. Duke
5. Amador Valley High School
6. University of Rhode Island
7. Ecole de technologie superieure
8. Florida Atlantic University
9. Team Tortuga
10. U.S. Naval Academy
11. Saratoga and Monta Vista High Schools
12. University of Victoria
13. University of West Florida
14. University of Colorado - Denver
15. DeVry—Calgary

2003

1. Cornell University
2. Ecole de technologie superieure (Montreal)
3. Duke
4. MIT
5. Amador Valley High School
6. University of Rhode Island
7. Hammerhead AUV Fellowship
8. University of Florida
9. University of Colorado - Denver
10. University of Victoria
11. University of West Florida
12. Virginia Tech

2004

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2. Cornell University
3. Ecole de technologie superieure
4. University of Rhode Island
5. Duke University
6. University of Ottawa
7. University of Florida
8. Amador Valley High School
9. University of Texas at Dallas
10. University of Victoria
11. Virginia Tech
12. Pacific Northwest AUV Fellowship
13. San Diego State University
14. University of Colorado at Denver
15. University of Central Florida
16. Southern Polytechnic State University
17. Brigham Young University - Hawaii
18. University Southern California

• Best Newcomer: University of Ottawa
• Lightest Entry: Brigham Young University - Hawaii
• Most Innovative: Duke University

2005

1. University of Florida
2. Ecole de Technologie Superieure
3. MIT
4. Duke University
5. Amador Valley High School
6. University of Rhode Island
7. University of Southern California
8. Cornell University
9. University of Colorado at Denver
10. Southern Polytechnic State University
11. University of Texas at Dallas
12. Georgia Tech - Marine Robotics Society
13. University of Central Florida
14. Virginia Tech
15. University of Ottawa
16. University of Victoria
17. DeVry
18. North Carolina State University
19. 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

1. University of Florida
2. Duke University
3. Ecole de technologie superieure
4. University of Rhode Island
5. University of Texas at Dallas
6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
7. Cornell University
8. University of Central Florida
9. North Carolina State University
10. Southern Polytechnic State University
11. University of Toronto
12. Virginia Tech
13. University of Ottawa
14. University of Victoria
15. Amador Valley High School
16. Georgia Tech
17. San Diego City College
18. University of Colorado Denver
19. University of Southern California
20. Kyushu Institute of Technology
21. Indian Underwater Robotics Society

• Best New Entry - University of Toronto
• Best New Design - University of Central Florida

2007

1. University of Florida, USA
2. University of Rhode Island, Dept. of Ocean Engineering, USA
3. École de Technologie Supérieure, CANADA
4. Cornell University, USA
5. University of Central Florida, USA
6. University of Southern California, USA
7. United States Naval Academy, USA
8. Southern Polytechnic State University, USA
9. Pacific Nautilus San Diego City College, USA
10. University of Maryland, USA
11. Southern Methodist University, USA
12. Smurphs Pair, Home School, USA
13. Amador Valley High School Robotics Club, USA
14. University of Colorado at Denver, USA
15. NW AUV Fellowship, USA
16. University of Victoria, CANADA
17. Virginia Tech AUVT, USA
18. University of Ottawa, CANADA
19. Duke University, USA
20. University of Texas at Dallas, USA
21. Delhi College of Engineering, INDIA
22. Georgia Tech, USA
23. San Diego iBotics AUV, USA
24. University of Toronto, CANADA
25. MIT, USA
26. North Carolina State University, USA
27. Kyushu Institute of Technology, JAPAN

2008

1. University of Maryland
2. University of Texas at Dallas
3. École de technologie supérieure
4. University of Florida
5. United States Naval Academy
6. University of Victoria
7. Cornell University
8. Florida Atlantic University
9. Delhi College of Engineering
10. San Diego City College
11. San Diego iBotics
12. University of Ottawa
13. Amador Valley High School
14. Southern Methodist University
15. University of Southern California
16. Georgia Tech
17. University of Alberta ARVP
18. University of Colorado at Boulder
19. Kyushu Institute of Technology
20. Universite Laval
21. Southern Polytechnic State University
22. University of West Florida
23. University of Wisconsin
24. North Carolina State University
25. Norwich University

2009

1. Cornell University ($10K)
2. University of Victoria ($4K)
3. University of Rhode Island ($3K)
4. UCF
5. U Texas @ Dallas
6. USC
7. FAU
8. U Maryland
9. Kyushu Institute of Tech
10. ETS
11. Amador
12. iBotics
13. US Naval Academy
14. Delhi College of Engineering
15. SDCR
16. NC State U
17. Saint George's
18. VT
19. U Toronto MDA
20. U Florida
21. ARVP
22. MIT
23. SPSU
24. Embry Riddle
25. KAIST
26. UWF
27. U Ottawa
28. Pacific Nautilus
29. U Colorado @ Denver
30. 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

1. Cornell ($6,000 Prize)
2. U.S. Naval Academy ($5,000)
3. University of Maryland ($2,250)
4. ETS ($1,750)
5. Amador Valley High School ($1,000)
6. University of Texas at Dallas ($1,000)
7. 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

1. ETS Team SONIA (awarded $7,500)
2.  Cornell University (awarded $3,000)
3. University of Florida (awarded $2,500)
4. University of Maryland ($1,500)
5. University of Victoria ($1,000)
6. University of Texas at Dallas ($1,000)
7. Florida Atlantic University ($500)
8. University of Central Florida ($500)
9. University of Rhode Island ($500)

2012

1. Cornell University ($7,000)
2. University of Maryland ($5,000)
3. University of Florida ($3,000)
4. ETS ($2,000)
5. Georgia Tech ($1,000)
6. Purdue University ($1,000)
7. University of Texas at Dallas ($1,000)
8. University of Victoria ($1,000)
9. Florida Atlantic University ($500)
10. RoboNation ($500)

2013

1. Cornell University
2. Georgia Tech
3. University of Florida
4. University of Maryland
5. University of Rhode Island
6. Purdue University
7. University of Texas at Dallas
8. ETS
9. University of Victoria
10. University of Arizona

2014

1. Cornell University
2. Georgia Tech
3. University of Florida
4. University of Maryland
5. Purdue University
6. University of Alberta
7. ETS
8. University of Arizona
9. University of Victoria
10. Florida Atlantic University

2015

1. Cornell University
2. University of Maryland
3. Georgia Tech
4. University of Florida
5. University of Alberta
6. ETS
7. Purdue University
8. University of Arizona
9. Florida Atlantic University
10. University of Victoria

2016

1. Cornell University
2. University of Florida
3. University of Alberta
4. Georgia Tech
5. Purdue University
6. ETS
7. University of Maryland
8. University of Victoria
9. California Institute of Technology

2017

1. Cornell University
2. University of Florida
3. University of Alberta
4. ETS
5. Purdue University
6. Georgia Tech
7. University of Rhode Island
8. University of Maryland
9. University of Victoria
10. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

2018

1. Cornell University
2. University of Florida
3. University of Alberta
4. Purdue University
5. ETS
6. Georgia Tech
7. University of Maryland
8. University of Rhode Island
9. University of Victoria
10. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

2019

1. Cornell University
2. University of Florida
3. University of Alberta
4. Purdue University
5. ETS
6. Georgia Tech
7. University of Maryland
8. University of Rhode Island
9. University of Victoria
10. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

2020

1. Cornell University
2. University of Florida
3. University of Alberta
4. Purdue University
5. ETS
6. Georgia Tech
7. University of Maryland
8. University of Rhode Island
9. University of Victoria
10. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

2021

1. Cornell University
2. University of Florida
3. University of Alberta
4. Purdue University
5. ETS
6. Georgia Tech
7. University of Maryland
8. University of Rhode Island
9. University of Victoria
10. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

2022

1. Cornell University
2. University of Florida
3. University of Alberta
4. Purdue University
5. ETS
6. Georgia Tech
7. University of Maryland
8. University of Rhode Island
9. University of Victoria
10. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University