AUVSI Foundation

The AUVSI Foundation is a charitable organization that was established to support the educational initiatives of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI).

The AUVSI Foundation focuses on the future of the robotics industry by developing programs that will attract and equip students for a career in this rapidly growing field.

Through a variety of efforts, the AUVSI Foundation provides students with the opportunity to experience fun, hands-on robotics activities that promote STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

The AUVSI Foundation hosts robotics competitions and contests that challenge students to apply their engineering skills in the development of autonomous ground, air and maritime vehicles.

The goal of these contests is to inspire students to follow a career, or at least develop a deeper interest, in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

There following robotics challenges and competitions are held by AUVSI:

• SeaPerch National Challenge where student teams have to navigate an underwater obstacle course using an easy to assemble remote-controlled vehicle built from a robot kit.
• International RoboBoat Competition where student teams have to design autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) and race on an aquatic obstacle course.
• International RoboSub Competition where students have to design Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) that are able to perform realistic missions in an underwater environment.
• Maritime RobotX Challenge In this contest teams are given standardized boats and judged on how well they can develop sensors and software for the boats.
• International Aerial Robotics Competition In this contest, student teams have to design aerial robots that are able to fly indoors and search for, and retrieve, a specific target while avoiding obstacles.
• Student Unmanned Air Systems Competition Student teams have to design a system capable of flying autonomously and navigating a specified course.
• Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition Autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) are designed by student teams to meet the criteria of a complex list of mobility, design, and interoperable architecture requirements.
• International RoboBoat Competition Student teams have to design autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) and race on an aquatic obstacle course. Littoral area navigation, channel following, and autonomous docking are all tested in this challenge.