organized by: student autonomous underwater challenge - europe (sauc-e) 2006
TRANSCRIPT
ORGANIZED BY:
Student Autonomous Underwater Challenge - Europe (SAUC-E) 2006
What is SAUC-E?
SAUC-E is the acronym for Student Autonomous Underwater Challenge - Europe. SAUC-E is a competition for european students to foster the research and development in underwater technology.
Sponsored by DSTL / EPSRC
Organised by DSTL, Heriot-Watt University, NOC
Challenge:
Design and build an AUV that can swim around an obstacle course against the clock in sheltered water conditions.
Manage a complete systems engineering project from design to build
How it works?
DSTL (MOD)
EPSRC
Steering Committee
Judges
CompetitorsIndustrial SponsorsCompetition
Funding
Missions
IndependentEvaluation
The Competitors
The Mission
Task nº 1: Move from launch/release point and submerge. Pass through a validation gate without contacting any part of the structure.
Task nº 2: Locate a target situated on the bottom of the tank and "hit" it using a marker dropped from the vehicle.
Task nº 3: Locate a mid-water target and make contact with the front of the vehicle. The target will be reflective (both optically and acoustically).
Task nº 4: Surface within a designated surfacing zone which will be marked by means of an active acoustic device.
The Dream
The Reality
Competition site
Competition site
The Teams
The Setup
The Setup
The Action
• Day 1:• Setup and buyancy testing• Sorting out last minute problems
Day 1 & 2
• Teams get ready
Day 2
Qualifications…• 4 Teams qualify for the final:
• HWU-Girona-Southampton-Bremen• Bath are back in the water• Leceister and Glasgow get wet
Day 3
• Girona wins the day
Day 4
Live!
SAUC-E: Results
1st
2nd
3rd
University of GironaCatalonia - Spain
Robot: ICTINEUAUV
Heriot-Watt UniversityScotland - UK
Robot: NESSIE AUV
Southampton UniversityUK
Robot: Soton AUV
SAUC-E: Prize
Award Team Prize
1st Girona £5,000
2nd Heriot Watt £2,000
3rd Southampton £1,000
The team with the fastest vehicle
Bremen £500
The team with the most innovative use of an everyday object
Leicester (using a fruit bowl)
£500
The team who persevered the most to overcome the challenge
Bath £500
The team that took the most challenging approach
Glasgow (the team with the waggiest tail!)
£500
The Spirit
• Most problems came from basic engineering
• Teams with little budget struggled
• Team with underwater research background had an edge
• Amazing result – No prior training in the pool– Yet 4 teams made it to the final– 2 teams managed to perform at least 2 tasks– More students and labs now ‘think AUVs’– Quality of vehicles was outstanding
• Continuity is assured for a few more years– MOD is on board– EPSRC is on-board– French DGA (MOD) is willing to join the party– Industry? It is up to you!
Lessons Learnt
• Encourage more teams to participate
• Keep Missions at the same level of difficulty
• Get involvement across Europe
• Better facility
• Bigger Pool
• More time in water for teams
• Encourage focus on autonomy
• Help required on basic engineering
• Financial support from industry welcomed
The Future