The Rays are one of five remote operated vehicle teams from Warrenton High School and defended their championship Saturday during the MATE ROV competition at the Newport Recreation Center. From left are Dalton Wallace, Daniel Myrvoid, Addison Scull and Micah Larson. They are now going to the world championship ROV competition in Canada next month. (Shayla Escudero/Lincoln Chronicle)Every spring, teams from across Oregon and Washington compete in an underwater robotics competition inside the Newport Recreation Center pool.
Thirteen middle school and highs school teams entered the competition Saturday — five from Warrenton, five from White Salmon, Wash and one each from schools in Coquille, Newport and Waldport.
Fourth-grader Sybil Harkema, left, and sixth-grader Remy Barron of the Jellyfish team from White Salmon, Wash. hoist their vehicle made of PVC pipe and zip ties into the pool. (Shayla Escudero/Lincoln Chronicle)Students design and assemble remotely operated vehicles that scour the pool floor and perform tasks. Many teams put in more than 1,000 hours of work outside of their normal school day to build their underwater robot. Each design is different — some teams used PVC pipe, 3D printed parts, cameras and industrial claws. Once the remotely operated vehicle – they’re called ROVs — is in the water, the team must pilot it through a series of underwater challenges such as moving items at the bottom of the pool. This simulates real-world tasks used in deep-sea mapping and exploration.
The winning team was “The Rays” of Warrenton High School, who will move on to the MATE ROV world championship in June in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Eighth grader Owen Becker of Gorge Makerspace in White Salmon, Wash. keeps a close eye on his team’s ROV as his teammates watch the underwater camera and pilot the robot. (Shayla Escudero/Lincoln Chronicle)The results of Saturday’s competition are:
Scout category:
Third place: The Jellyfish from Gorge Makerspace, White Salmon, Wash.;
Second place: The Seasick Maniacs, Gorge Makerspace;
First place: The Warrenton Whirlpools, Warrenton High School.
Navigator category
Third place: The Stingrays, Gorge Makerspace;
Second place: The Swordfish, Gorge Makerspace;
First place: The Manatees, Gorge Makerspace.
Ranger
Second place: The Aegeans, Warrenton High School;
First place: The Rays of Warrenton High School, who advance to the MATE ROV World Championship.
— Shayla Escudero/Lincoln Chronicle
