The Competition
MATE ROV 2026
What is the MATE ROV Competition?
The MATE ROV Competition is a global event where student-led teams design remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) to complete a variety of tasks. The competition's challenges encourage students to build skills in engineering, electronics, physics, and math, as well as learning hands-on technical skills and real world applications of robotics. Students from grades K–12, college, and university are eligible to participate.
As we are an university team, Kelpie Robotics it proud to participate in the Explorer Class of the MATE ROV Competition.
As we are an university team, Kelpie Robotics it proud to participate in the Explorer Class of the MATE ROV Competition.
Location
The MATE ROV World Championships take place each year in June. The World Championships showcase the top 60 robotics teams from 20 countries around the world. The location changes in each year which challenges reflecting real marine robotics issues facing the host region.
In past years Kelpie has competed in:
In past years Kelpie has competed in:
- Long Beach, California — 2022
- Longmont, Colorado — 2023
- Alpena, Michigan — 2025
The 2026 World Championships will be held in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador June 25-27, marking Kelpie's fourth time competing.
Marine Conservation
Kelpie's mission aligns with the MATE program alongside the United Nations' Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences that emphasizes the importance of ecology in marine ecosystems.
Through developing technologies, such as ROVs, marine ecosystems can be monitored and maintained safely and responsibly to aid in conservation efforts. Kelpie's goal is to create a prototype ROV to do just that!
Our ROV is built with sustainability in mind. The majority of our components are reused year to year and other materials are repurposed or recycled after use, reducing our environmental footprint. It is also built with marine life in mind, with operation causing no ecological harm and minimized disturbance.
We back our environmental promise by promoting marine conservation by educating our members during conferences and sharing our acquired knowledge in our events and on our social media platforms. We also take part in knowledge transfer by encouraging our community to partake in responsible consumption and participate in ecological protection.
By implementing environmentally responsible practices, Kelpie Robotics encourages the development of technological solutions and increases awareness on the importance of the protection of marine environments for a greener future.
Through developing technologies, such as ROVs, marine ecosystems can be monitored and maintained safely and responsibly to aid in conservation efforts. Kelpie's goal is to create a prototype ROV to do just that!
Our ROV is built with sustainability in mind. The majority of our components are reused year to year and other materials are repurposed or recycled after use, reducing our environmental footprint. It is also built with marine life in mind, with operation causing no ecological harm and minimized disturbance.
We back our environmental promise by promoting marine conservation by educating our members during conferences and sharing our acquired knowledge in our events and on our social media platforms. We also take part in knowledge transfer by encouraging our community to partake in responsible consumption and participate in ecological protection.
By implementing environmentally responsible practices, Kelpie Robotics encourages the development of technological solutions and increases awareness on the importance of the protection of marine environments for a greener future.