MATE International Competition

I (Karly Kruger) just got back from the MATE International Competition, and I am still awestruck at what I saw and the people I was able to meet.

The ROV's at this competition were extremely innovated and well made. Each team had a different design and different outlook on how to go about making their ROV. A few examples of the different innovated designs were Nova Scotia's helmet/camera system. You put the helmet on and as you moved your head back and forth the camera also moved. One of the teams from Vladivostok, Russia had a material on their ROV that changed color when there was a leak in the ROV. With all the technology there was bound to be issues, and as I walked around I realized a lot of the team had variations of the same problem.  I think it was reassuring to all teams to see that they weren't alone and every one else struggled with complications. 

Alpena Community College ROV

Team Aquaphotos' ROV
(Egypt)

Aside from the actual ROV competition the social dynamic was completing amazing. All these students, which were ages 13-25, and were from Russia to Delaware were able to talk to one another. This to me was such a big part of the competition, and I was truly touched by everyone I talked to. Talking to all these people proved to me that the learning didn't just stop after the ROV's were done it continued in many more ways.

Team Screwdrivers
(India) 

Amr from team M.I.A
(Egypt)

Konstantin Borisov and I
(Russia) 

I am so thankful to be able to be part of something like this. The MATE team and the Thunder Bay Sanctuary worked so hard to make sure every team and volunteer were taken care of.  I am truly thankful and appreciative of everything I was able to experience and do in the last few days. 

-Karly Kruger