UIU MARINER team from United International University qualifies for the 2025 MATE ROV World Championship in Michigan, USA—marking a historic first for Bangladesh.
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| UIU MARINER, a team from United International University in Bangladesh, will compete in the MATE ROV 2025 World Championship in the U.S., showcasing cutting-edge underwater robotics. Image: UIU |
DHAKA, Bangladesh — May 20, 2025:
The UIU MARINER team from United International University (UIU) in Dhaka has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by qualifying for the 2025 MATE ROV World Championship, one of the most prestigious marine robotics competitions globally. The event, hosted by the Marine Technology Society, will take place from June 17 to 21, 2025, in Alpena, Michigan, USA.
This marks the first time a university from Bangladesh will compete in the MATE ROV World Championship, placing UIU on the global map for advanced robotics and underwater engineering.
Led by project manager Anika Tabassum Orchi and head of R&D Farhan Zaman, the UIU MARINER team is part of UIU's Advanced Underwater Robotics and Automation (AURA) crew. The team recently demonstrated their self-built Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), which effectively removed plastic waste and entangled fishing lines from a lake—emphasizing their commitment to environmental stewardship and marine sustainability.
Despite working under time constraints, the AURA crew developed six robotic prototypes in just five months, including the Hydra Archeleon 2.0 and Hydra Octobot 2.0. Their latest model, Hydra Scorpion, incorporates a modular design that allows the robot to adapt to diverse missions ranging from underwater infrastructure repairs to shipwreck surveys.
The team’s achievement is even more significant given the ongoing student protests at UIU, which have made national headlines. Nonetheless, the university community and faculty provided strong support, with guidance from Prof. Dr. A.K.M. Muzahidul Islam, Engr. Fahim Hafiz, and Engr. Saifur Rahman of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
In June, the UIU MARINER team will fly to Alpena, Michigan, to represent not just their university but also the nation of Bangladesh. Their participation signals a promising future for STEM education in South Asia and serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for aspiring engineers and technologists in the region.
As the competition draws near, the team continues to fine-tune their ROV systems, bringing both cutting-edge innovation and national pride to the world stage.