<Title language-id="en_US">Russian team wins first place at the world underwater robototronics championship

The Far Eastern Federal University student team won the world championship in remotely operated vehicles at the 2012 MATE International ROV Competition, which was organized in Orlando, Florida, USA.

Each Year, this competition attracts teams of specialists in underwater robototronics from all over the world. The FEFU team “Primorye Coast” competed with more than 20 teams from different countries including: USA, China, India, Great Britain, Egypt and others. The FEFU team has been taking part in these competitions, since 2008. In 2010, the team won first place for the first time. “Primorye Coast” consists of students of different specialties – from computer security to medical physics and interior design.

This year, the theme of the competition was the research of sunken World War II vessels. For the participants, there was a simulated event in which the fuel materials of the sunken vessels were an environmental threat that had to be neutralized. The teams were challenged with the development of methods for the secure fuel extraction.

At the core of the equipment, developed by the FEFU team, are bionic principles, and the “skeleton” of the equipment resembles the anatomy of sea creatures. The apparatus can withstand water pressure up to the depth of 6 meters and is fitted with video cameras, transmitting the whole picture of the ocean floor to the pilot.

Several technical elements were specially created for this device, for example, components for the engine are made out of plastic with the help of a 3-D printer. “For many years already we’ve taken part in these competitions, and year by year the tasks get more difficult and interesting. For us, the competition is the climax of our work: all team members worked to create the apparatus. However, the completion of the devise is only half of the success. Only a clear and harmonious team work during the competitions can lead to the victory” said the leader of the team, Specialist of the FEFU Department of students’ scientific research work, Mr. Sergey Moon.

There is a stereotype that robotics engineering is a job for men, but there is also a girl on FEFU’s team. “I am very happy to have a chance to take part in such a competition in the USA and to win together with my team. This has been a unique experience that I would like to repeat next year as well”, said Ms. Angelina Borovskaya, 4th-year student of the FEFU School of Engineering.

The Marine Advanced Technology Education Center (MATE Center) is the organizer of MATE ROV Competition 2012 and other international competitions on underwater robotics.

About FEFU

Far Eastern Federal University is one of the federal universities forming elite Russian higher education. FEFU was established under a Russian presidential decree in October 2009 on the basis of four leading universities of the Far East, which have a history of more than 120 years of scholarship. FEFU’s development strategy includes the creation of an internationally recognized science and education center to represent Russia in Asia-Pacific region. The university’s priority development programs focus on “World ocean resources,” “Energy resources and energy-saving technologies,” “Nano-systems and nano-materials industry,, “Transportation and logistics,” “Russia’s interaction with APR countries,” and “Biomedicine.”

The unique educational environment that is being created on Russky Island (Vladivostok) will provide students and the people of Primorsky Krai with ideal opportunities for studying and making the most of their creative potential. The new FEFU campus will open its doors immediately after the completion of the APEC Summit, to be hosted here in September 2012.