Underwater robotics competition hosted at the McNeese natatorium.

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – Students all over southwest Louisiana competed in an underwater robotics competition.

This was a collaboration with McNeese university- burton college of education, the Calcasieu parish school board, the Calcasieu parish sheriff’s office and the region 5 stem center.

Over 100 kids divided up into 27 teams battled it out underwater in various competitions.

Students were tasked with creating their own robots out of everyday household materials.

“The students have built their own underwater robots from scratch,” Organizer Dana East said. “They sawdered, they drilled holes, they put everything together from the circuit board to the frame and now they are putting them in the water and running them through speed courses and obstacle courses that simulate what ROV’s would actually be doing in real life underwater.”

Everything used in the making of the robots was 100 percent free to the kids.

“So the idea is to do something affordable and easy but still to teach kids engineering development,” Organizer Terri Simpson said.

Although this competition is the first of its kind held at McNeese, organizers say they look forward to expanding more and more each year.

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