Manchester High School Robotics Club Headed To International Contest

MANCHESTER, NJ — The Manchester Township High School Robotics Club is headed to the 2022 International SeaPerch Challenge in Maryland, after taking second place at the regional competition in Philadelphia in April.

Sarah Smith, Sean Becker and Wyatt Cervenak, all seniors, and junior Abena Konadu took second place in the vehicle performance category at the 2022 Greater Philadelphia SeaPerch Challenge on April 29, according to a report by Adriana Adametz for the Talon, the Manchester Township High School newspaper.

SeaPerch is a remotely operated vehicle competition sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, MathWorks and AutoDesk. The competition resumed after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

The underwater robot had to be able to lift a box that was underwater, remove the battery, and place it somewhere else. The robot also had to complete an obstacle course, Adametz wrote.

The program "guides students on building an underwater robot while supplying educators with the tools and training to help them through the process," the program's website says.

"SeaPerch aims to reduce traditional barriers to participation in robotics programs and promotes opportunities to engage students and educators in inquiry-based learning with real-world applications," the website says. It introduces students to basic engineering, design, and science concepts through a hands-on project.

Read Adametz's full article here.