Robosub

Every year, teams from around the world gather at the international RoboSub competition to push the limits of autonomous underwater robotics. Since 1998, RoboSub has challenged student engineering teams to design fully autonomous submarines capable of completing complex underwater missions without human intervention. More than 50 teams, ranging from high school to university level, compete each year, including several Canadian universities. Over the years, S.O.N.I.A. has established itself as one of the most recognized and accomplished teams in the competition’s history, combining innovation, technical excellence, and more than 25 years of expertise in autonomous underwater vehicles.

S.O.N.I.A. currently operates two autonomous underwater vehicles: AUV8.1 and LITE1. Designed to work collaboratively during the competition, both submarines communicate and coordinate their actions underwater to accomplish complex missions efficiently. Equipped with advanced sensors and autonomous systems, the vehicles are capable of navigating, detecting objects, and interacting with their environment autonomously. While AUV8.1 handles the more complex tasks, LITE1 focuses on simpler objectives and data gathering to support the other vehicle during missions. Together, AUV8.1 and LITE1 showcase S.O.N.I.A.’s expertise in underwater robotics and autonomous cooperation.

Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine

California, USA

May 27 : Design Documentation Deadline

11-16 July 2025 : Robosub Competition OnSite

AUVSI : Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International

ONR : Office of Naval Research