Held since 2006, SAUC-E challenges the next generation of engineers to design and build an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) capable of performing realistic missions.
The event is designed to encourage students to think about underwater technology and related applications while fostering innovation and technology. It also aims at getting young engineers and scientists to consider careers in the field.
Participating teams must consist of 75% student members and have a faculty advisor.
From 2010 SAUC-E has been held in La Spezia (Italy) at NATO Undersea Research Centre (NURC).
After the success of the two first editions, competitors will have once again in 2012 the possibility to deal with real life conditions (i.e. limited visibility and salty water) since the competition is being held for the third time outside at the NURC waterfront, which is a sheltered harbor.
The date for the SAUC-E '12 are confirmed as 6 July - 13 July. Due to a change in timings the competition will run Friday to Friday.
News on SAUC-E '12 accommodation facilities.
Download the new intent to compete form.
Download the Mission Rules 2012.
SAUC-E 12 Organisers are pleased to announce that the event this year is being supported by Tritech who are offering a 50% Educational Discount to students on the SAUC-E competition (on the condition that all items purchased are not for resale).
Teams are encouraged to contact Tritech directly and quote SAUC–E 12 in order to receive their discounts.
SAUC-E '11 winners
University of Luebeck from Germany, triumphed over 9 other teams to win the SAUC-E ’11, the 6th Student Autonomous Underwater Challenge Europe. The team’s AUV called “Hanse” got the highest score successfully completing a number of mission tasks assigned. The 2nd prize went to University of Girona (2010 Champions) from Spain with its AUV “Sparus”, while DFKI Bremen from Germany took home the 3rd prize, closely followed by ENSTA Bretagne (4th).
Heriot-Watt University entered the final phase and got the “Cooperation Award”.
The other participating teams were from University of Southampton and University of Birmingham, a joint team that won the “Engineering Award”, the University of West England, that won the “Experimentation Award”, ESIEA Paris (two teams) that won “Perseverance & tenacity Award” and “Best Use of Resources” Award and Cambridge University that won the “Teamwork Award”.
An international jury of experts awarded the three teams that not only built the most efficient, reliable and compelling vehicles but also stood out for technical merit, craftsmanship, safety of design, marketing and fund-raising efforts.
The winners’ prizes for the first four seeded are 4000, 3000, 2000, 1500 Euros to be used by the team to improve their equipment for future competitions. All the other teams received 1000 Euros each to encourage their work.
"As every competition, also SAUC-E ’11 was a challenge for all participants", says Dirk Tielbuerger, Director of NURC, during the award ceremony. "All teams performed with important achievements that will help them to continue with their work in the future. Overall the whole event was a great success".
Download the photos (first part, second part) of the award ceremony at NURC.
Download the general photos of the 2011 competition .
