(Prescott)--In its first year, the Yavapai College Robotics Club has qualified for the international Marine Advanced Technology Education Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) Competition.

Competitors around the world generally must qualify through a regional competition in order to attend the international competition. Due to its lack of regional competitors, Yavapai College Robotics Club qualified by completing a series of tasks that were videotaped. which is taking place June 16-18 at the NASA Neutral Buoyancy Lab in Houston, Texas.

The tape was then verified and the club was invited to participate in the international competition.

As one of the few community colleges that qualified, the YC Robotics Club will join a prestigious slate of competitors including teams from Russia, China, Egypt, Iran, and India, and prestigious American universities Cal Poly State University, Harvey Mudd College, Purdue University, and UCLA.

This year’s competition highlights the role that ROVs play in the offshore oil and gas industry and focuses on the challenges they faced during the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The mission tasks include removing a damaged riser pipe, capping a wellhead, collecting a water sample, measuring depth, and sampling organisms.

In addition to technical skills, the event helps students develop the abilities to problem solve, think critically, and work as part of a team. By connecting students with employers and professionals from the workplace, the competition also exposes students to ocean-related career opportunities and helps them see the pathways to those careers.

The robotics club was recently formed this past fall under the direction of Electrical and Instrumentation Faculty, Rick Peters. Members of the team include Tyson Rhodes (Software), Rick Peters (Advisor), Liz Peters (Captain), Dan Collins (Co-Pilot), Silvano Flores (Pilot), and Jay Hogan (Tether).