In their first-ever appearance at the international RoboSub competition in Irvine, California, the Olympic College Engineering Club made a stunning debut, advancing all the way to the semi-finals with their autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), dubbed RANGER-01.
The RoboSub competition challenges student teams from around the world to design and build robotic submarines capable of completing complex underwater tasks. For the Engineering Club, it was a splash course in engineering under pressure.
“Most teams had nine months and built off their previous AUVs. We had five,” said Engineering Club Co-Advisor Jennifer Hedegaard.
The team began preparations in February and faced numerous obstacles leading up to the competition in August, including reworked CAD designs, fried circuits, and failed water tests, which resulted in many late nights.
From securing early morning testing slots and troubleshooting technical issues to giving presentations and running late-night trials, the team faced a steady stream of challenges during the competition. Despite the pressure, they remained positive and resilient, tackling each obstacle with determination and teamwork.
“I learned that the challenges brought us closer. I definitely felt closer with my team members when we were on a time crunch,” said third-year Mechanical Engineering student Carson Leach.
RANGER-01 missed the finals after a motor malfunction during its final run, causing the sub to spin in circles.
“We feel that we tried everything possible to troubleshoot these issues, taking full advantage of the extra parts we brought. But the issue was too large-scale to fix in a night,” said Engineering Club President Katelyn Peppers.
Despite the challenges, the team’s performance left a lasting impression.
“We never imagined getting this far in our first year - most rookie teams don’t - but the team’s persistence and passion have paid off,” Hedegaard said.
Participating in the competition helped team members gain confidence in their decision to pursue careers in STEM. RoboSub competitor and second-year Mechanical Engineering student Joshua Saylor offered this advice to future STEM students:
“The lessons you learn in STEM at Olympic College are what you will be applying in the field as an engineer,” he said. “Don't be afraid to get a head start on your experience by learning through first-hand experience how STEM can be applied outside the classroom.”
The achievement was made possible through strong community support. Local industry mentors, the Olympic College Foundation, McLaughlin Research Corporation, Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievement (MESA) Program, Naval Sea Systems Command - Keyport, and individual donors all played critical roles in helping the team succeed at the competition.
Exhausted but inspired, the team is already planning for next year. Peppers assures, “Our redesign and implementation of things we learned will commence soon!”