From Jadavpur to the National Stage: Our AUV Journey to the Robofest 5.0

We started with a simple question: "What would happen if we entered a national competition just to see where we stand?" Fast forward through months of frantic coding, waterproof testing, and long train rides across India, and we have our answer: Team BotMarines is headed to the Finals of Gujarat Robofest 5.0!

Meet Team BotMarines

This achievement wouldn't be possible without the dedicated members of our team:

• Aniket Samanta (Team Lead)

• Syed Zishan Aziz

• Ankit Paul

Under the mentorship of Dr. Sandip Sarkar.

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The Spark of an Idea

Our journey began with a bold proposal for an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). As second-year engineering students, the leap from theory to building a vehicle that could navigate the depths of a freshwater tank was massive. When we cleared the first round, the reality set in—it was time to stop dreaming and start building.

Engineering Under Pressure

Building a robot for the water isn't like building one for land. Every seal has to be perfect, and every gram of buoyancy matters. Our AUV, which we affectionately call the "Botmarine," is a beast of engineering:

• The Skeleton: We built a robust, modular frame using PVC pipes, designed to survive depths of up to 5 meters.

• The Brains: We used a Raspberry Pi 5 for high-level "thinking" like SLAM (mapping) and a Pixhawk flight controller for rock-solid stability.

• The Senses: Since GPS doesn't work underwater, we built a custom 12-hydrophone array to "hear" acoustic targets and used global-shutter cameras to see through the murk.

The Ahmedabad Rollercoaster

The trip to Ahmedabad was a "hell of a journey" in every sense. The train rides were filled with laughter and banter, but the atmosphere at the competition was electric and, honestly, a bit intimidating. Seeing the caliber of teams from across the country was a humbling experience.

On the final day of the second round, things were hectic. We left the venue feeling a bit disappointed, thinking we hadn't done enough to move forward. We told ourselves that even if we didn't win, the experience and the knowledge we gained from other teams were worth the effort.

The Surprise of a Lifetime

Two months of silence followed. We had almost moved on when the news broke: We were selected for the Finals. The feeling of pride was unlike anything else. Representing Jadavpur University on a national stage for the first time in this category is a responsibility we don't take lightly.

What’s Next?

The "Botmarine" is currently undergoing final tweaks. We’re refining our PID control loops and sharpening our Object Detection algorithms to ensure that when we hit the water in the finals, we’re ready for anything—from U-turns to precise payload deliveries.

This hasn't just been a technical project; it’s been a lesson in persistence. To our mentors, our professors, and the Mechatronics Club—thank you for believing in a group of sophomores with a wild idea.

See you at the Finals!