BRACU Duburi, an autonomous underwater vehicle developed by BRAC University students, has been adjudged runner-up of Robosub 2023, one of the world’s most prestigious robotics competitions. The team also received Ingenuity Special Award in this competition.
Hosted by Robonation and co-hosted by Naval Information Warfare Centre (NIWC) Pacific of the USA in conjunction with the Office of Naval Research at Transdec, California, USA, RoboSub is an international competition that invites participants to tackle simplified versions of challenges facing the underwater maritime industry. This year 34 teams from globally reputed universities and education institutions took part in the competition in California, US from 31 July to 6 August. The first place was secured by the National University of Singapore while University of Alberta got the third place.
Pioneering underwater robotics research in Bangladesh, BRACU Duburi is capable of autonomous underwater navigation and machine learning powered data collection. By analyzing the collected data, it can provide sustainable solutions for water pollution reduction, search-and-rescue missions and autonomous monitoring and research in areas where manned missions are quite impossible. Built keeping the Bangladeshi scenario in mind, its low light camera can operate in opaque water and low light situations while its 8 state-of-the-art thrusters enables it to traverse turbulent waters.
Dr. Md. Khalilur Rahman, Professor, Computer Science and Engineering Department of BRAC University was the Advisor and Sayantan Roy Arko, Research Assistant and Md Nayem Hossain Saikat, Research Assistant were Co-advisors from BRAC University. The BRACU Duburi team consists of around 50 student members, with A. T. M. Masum Billah Mishu as team lead and Md Mahfujul Haque as vice-team lead. Subteam leads are S.M Minoor Karim, Nazmul Haque Omi, Shaownak Md Ibne Shahriar Talukder, Partho Protim Sarker Joy, Samia Abdullah, Umama Tasnuva Aziz. Including contributing members Mahdi Uddin Ahmed, Soumik Hasan Shranto, Md. Musfique Billah and Md Shazzad Hossain Chowdhury.