 Has Robbie the Robot learned to swim? Hardly, but an advanced generation of underwater robots will compete at Canyonview Pool when UC San Diego hosts an underwater robot competition June 26 to 28.
This year marks Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center's seventh annual international remotely operated vehicles (ROV) competition, hosted by the Ridge 2000 program at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. ROVs are underwater robots used in scientific research, ocean exploration and observation and by the marine industry.
This year's theme, "Diving to the Deep: Uncovering the Mysteries of Mid-Ocean Ridges," will challenge the middle school, high school, community college and university students to perform tasks to "see" and "feel" a simulated hydrothermal vent community using remotely operated
arms, infrared eyes and temperature sensors. More than 50 teams from the United States, Canada, China (Hong Kong), Iran, Russia and Scotland will compete in underwater missions using underwater robots that they designed and built themselves.
MATE's ROV competition uses ROVs to teach technical, engineering, scientific and critical thinking skills, which are in great demand in today's technical workplace. MATE's competition helps students become aware of careers in which they can apply these skills, a critical
step in addressing the shortage of qualified engineers and technical professionals.
This year's competition is designed to present students with the types of challenges faced by scientists and engineers working in extreme ocean environments. Hydrothermal vents are hot springs located deep on the seafloor near mid-ocean ridges, where the earth's tectonic plates slowly spread apart to create new seafloor crust. Vents emit continuous streams of super-heated, mineral-rich water through cracks in the earth's crust, creating an ecosystem that supports unique communities.
Media and the public are invited to observe the competition live from a poolside-viewing tent at UCSD's Canyonview Aquatics Center on Friday, June 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, June 28 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Canyonview pool is located at the corner of Voight and Lyman Drives on the UCSD campus. 
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