MATE Robotics
The MATE underwater robotics competition aims to encourage STEM education through marine technology. Students from kindergarten to college can come together and learn to build remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). They are given the opportunity to present themselves as a company which teaches students to present their ideas effectively and professionally. Adding the underwater component challenges kids on an entirely new level. They must learn how to incorporate waterproofing, buoyancy, and electronics into a compact and functional robot. This builds creative thinking skills like no other competition.
3 Aspects
Robotics
Teams must complete 4 tasks to earn points. These tasks include taking distance measurements, collecting agar samples, and shining lasers on contaminated areas. These tasks are simulations of real world problems that ports face everyday. This robotics aspect prepares the future generation for coming up with simple solutions to complicated problems. |
Tri-Board
Contestants must present their hard work from the past year in a tri-board presentation. This board must display the team's design process for the robot, how the team is structured, and the team's impact on the community. This aspect allows students to practice displaying concepts in a simple, aesthetically appealing way. |
Documentation
The team must document everything about how the robot was built from the brainstorming stage to the final product. This includes pseudo code, wiring schematics, and CAD diagrams. This type of detailed documentation is what is expected in the industry and workplace so it is very helpful to have experience at a young age. |