Help get Team Narwhal to America for International Aquabot Competition

Hi, my name is Caitlin Picher and I am part of an Aquabot team called Narwhal along with Thorben. We are both year 11 at Waimea College and in October last year we were lucky enough to be selected to attend an advanced science camp run by Otago University in Mistletoe Bay. During this week we designed, built and tested our aquabot. Aquabots are underwater robots used to collect data from waterways for places such as Otago University and The Department of Conservation. We carried out many experiments with our aquabot within the bay which included DNA sampling, depth and pressure testing, trying to obtain sediment samples and catching and observing different types of plankton. After our camp we were told that we could enter our aquabot into a regional competition in December 2021. At the competition we had to control our aquabot though an obstacle course, pick up objects from the bottom of the pool and ‘deactivate’ a thermal sensor. Out of Nelson and Marlborough our team came first in our age group meaning we got into the nationals which were held just a few weeks ago in Nelson. The nationals tasks were a lot harder but after a couple modifications to our Aquabot we managed to complete all of them. In New Zealand we placed 4th overall and came 1st in our age group and have been accepted into the internationals which is held in Maryland, USA on June 4th 2022. We are very excited to have this opportunity and trying very hard to make this possible with the help of our parent’s.