University Of North Alabama To Host Underwater Rov Competition

Apr. 08, 2016

Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@xt23z.com, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

Bryan Rachal, University Communications

FLORENCE, Ala. - The University of North Alabama is looking for a few good underwater lions! Before you start wondering how that's possible, note that these underwater lions are actually groups of high school and middle school students competing in an underwater ROV (remotely operated vehicle) competition hosted by UNA. The competition is April 16, and will take place from 10:30 a.m. - noon, at the Flowers Hall Pool on campus.

Underwater Lions is a group under the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) based at UNA's East campus. Each team is tasked with building an ROV, which is a vehicle that is used to explore and work underwater. Since the ocean covers 75 percent of the earth, ROVs were created to do a variety of tasks underwater without endangering human lives. Additionally, an ROV can travel to much deeper depths than a human.

Each team participating in UNA's competition will use a similar base ROV kit and then enter it in either the stock or modified competition. The ROVs must then complete tasks underwater, including navigating an obstacle course and moving material.

"Right now, it looks like we'll have about seven local teams competing," said Lee Brownell, a specialist for UNA's AMSTI program. "What we hope, though, is that more people hear about all these neat things we're doing like this and the recent rocketry challenge and start taking advantage of all the programs AMSTI offers " he said.

For more information on AMSTI at UNA: http://oefg.xt23z.com/inservice/index.html