Robotics Competition Explores Environmental Monitoring of Coral Restoration

by Dauphin Island Sea Lab
overall winner in seapearch competition
Overall Alabama Regional Seaperch Winner - Rehobeth NJROTC’s Team A

Rehobeth NJROTC’s Team A won the overall regional champion title this weekend at the Alabama Regional SeaPerch competition.

Eleven teams competed in the fifth annual SeaPerch ROV Competition at UMS-Wright Preparatory School in Mobile, Alabama, on Saturday, February 22. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab and UMS-Wright co-hosted the competition.

The middle and high school teams competed in two pool courses - an obstacle course and a mission course. Each team built and practiced with their SeaPerch underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) in preparation for the competition.

This year’s mission course theme was environmental monitoring, focusing on coral restoration. One course challenged the students to complete tasks, including accessing a bio bucket, marine life management, coral restoration, coral sample collection, and marine monitoring. The obstacle course challenged the speed and maneuverability of their ROV.

Alabama schools competing include Daphne High School, Rehobeth High School NJROTC, Robertsdale Navy JROTC, and UMS-Wright Preparatory School. Mississippi schools include Gulfport City Schools and Northeast Lauderdale High School NJROTC.

Middle School and High School team placements were:

Teamwork Award:

teamwork award winner in seapearch competition
The Sailors from Gulfport City Schools earned the teamwork award for their positive attitudes and working together to complete the course.

Middle School Top Technical Report:

middle school tech report winner in seapearch competition
The Big Dawgs, UMS-Wright Preparatory School

High School Top Technical Report:

high school tech report winner in seapearch competition
Waffle House, Robertsdale Navy JROTC

Middle School:

first place middle school winner in seapearch competition
1st- SeaKings, Gulfport City Schools
middle school second place winner in seapearch competition
2nd- Big Dawgs, UMS-Wright Preparatory School
middle school third place winner in seapearch competition
3rd- Aqua Dogs, UMS-Wright Preparatory School

High School:

first place high school winner in seapearch competition
1st- Rehobeth NJROTC Team A
high school second place winner in seapearch competition
2nd- Northeast Lauderdale NJROTC
high school third place winner in seapearch competition
3rd- Trojan Power Robotics #1, Daphne High School

Learn more about DISL’s Discovery Hall Programs STEM classes, camps, and workshops at www.disl.edu/dhp/stem.