Jacobs Team Successful at Marine Robotics Competition in Italy

Black Pearl – the team made up of students from Jacobs University and the University of Pisa, placed third in the overall ranking of the 2022 Robotics for Asset Maintenance and Inspection competition. (Source: Francesco Maurelli/Jacobs University) ,

 

August 5, 2022

Black Pearl – the team made up of seven bachelor students from Jacobs University, along with two master students from the University of Pisa, placed third in the overall ranking of the 2022 RAMI (Robotics for Asset Maintenance and Inspection Competition). As first-time participants, they were also awarded with the Best Rookie Award for their success. The competition was held at the NATO STO Center for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) in La Spezia, Italy, in July 2022.

The competition aims at addressing inspection and maintenance tasks achieved by underwater robots. The students from Bremen and Pisa, led by Jacobs graduate Nayan Man Singh Pradhan, were excited to take on this challenge and building the software for an autonomous vehicle from scratch and face well-experienced international teams.

“I am truly amazed by the craftmanship I have seen in our team,” said Francesco Maurelli, Professor in Marine Systems and Robotics, who supported the team on Jacobs University side. He then added: “Such a strong commitment and passionate teamwork from students from seven different countries is really unique.” The team met online regularly before the competition but finally met in person on their first day in Italy.

The collaboration with the University of Pisa started through ISME – the Interuniversity Center of Integrated Systems for the Marine Environment – in the framework of the EU-funded project EU Marine Robots. “When the marine robotics competition was announced after two years of forced stop, we discussed the option of a joint team with the University of Pisa to support students' involvement in the field and to foster international collaboration,” said Maurelli.

He is convinced that the infrastructures at Jacobs University played a vital role in achieving these great results: “From the robotics lab in the IRC (Information Resource Center) to the Ocean Lab with its tank and collaboration space, the team had the perfect environment to work.”

About the competition:
https://metricsproject.eu/inspection-maintenance/rami-competition/

About EU Marine Robots:
https://www.eumarinerobots.eu/

Questions answered by:
Francesco Maurelli | Professor in Marine Systems and Robotics
E-Mail: f.maurelli [at] jacobs-university.de | Tel.: +49 421 200-3111

, All students were truly committed to making their participation a success. , The students from Bremen and Pisa were excited to build the software for an autonomous vehicle from scratch. , After arriving in Italy the team had several days to prepare for the competition and test out their robot.