Bubbleheads make a splash

Naselle technology students put on the national map this month.

The Bubbleheads” placed ninth in a team robotics competition that attracted entries from four continents. Their coach, Rudi Rudolph, returned from the East Coast bubbling with praise. “Students did a great job at the competition,” he said. “I am proud of their accomplishments and their drive to succeed. Every year teams are learning design ideas from each other, making it tougher to get to the top.”

The Naselle team consists of Alia Lebovitz, Derek Suomela, Lewis Hoff, Hunter Blain and Andy Rosas. Their task was to design and manipulate an underwater robot in the SeaPerch International competition. The event attracted 174 teams from the United States, China, New Zealand, Egypt, and Kuwait to the campus of the University of Maryland.

‘Grateful’

The event organizers stress the collaborative nature of the underwater robotics competition, which is designed to engage students in hands-on STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

The remotely operated robots face challenges while maneuvering and navigating underwater obstacles. A deeper goal is to encourage students’ career exploration in marine robotics, engineering and core trades while instilling a need to conserve ocean resources.

Blain was the driver, Lebovitz wrote the technical papers, Suomela did the wiring and helped write code, Hoff was the line handler and editor, and Rosas was involved in coding and 3D printing.

“All of the members of the Bubbleheads are grateful for the experiences they had in SeaPerch, and look forward to using their new skills as they grow up,” Lebovitz wrote in a final summary which thanked all who helped the team over the years. The report included a heartfelt thanks to their coach: “Mr. Rudolph, who graciously let his classroom be destroyed every week.”

One more

The team qualified to participate from among 3,000 teams competing in regional contests around the U.S. They placed ninth overall in the open division, which featured 28 teams. In specific categories, the Bubbleheads were seventh on the mission course, which allows one attempt, ninth for a technical design report, and 15th in an obstacle course, which allows one repeat.

The Naselle robot, “The Bubble,” built on a budget of less than $1,000, did not disappoint. It was the third year competing for the squad, which used three-dimensional printing techniques to improve the design of its remotely operated vehicle. “Our underwater robot performed well with no major problems,” Rudolph said.

The three seniors on the team have one more science mission, even though they graduated June 8, Hoff as valedictorian and Lebovitz as salutatorian. They will take part in the national Skills USA competition in Georgia later this month. Hoff and Lebovitz qualified in Robotics Automation and Suomela in Industrial Motor Control, all placing first in their state competitions in Tacoma earlier in the year.