The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), is organizing the National Student Challenge Programme, formerly known as the Student Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (SAVe) competition. Since its inception in 2011, this capacity-building initiative has encouraged undergraduate engineering students to conceptualize, design, and develop Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). To date, 279 teams have registered, resulting in 40 unique student-developed AUVs and providing over 1,300 students exposure to marine robotics.

The programme continues to play an important role in promoting innovation, developing indigenous technologies, and strengthening India’s capabilities in autonomous underwater systems and ocean observation technologies in line with the vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047”. After a pause during the pandemic period, the programme is now being revived under the Deep Ocean Mission with renewed enthusiasm to support the vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” in marine technology.

The 2026 edition of the programme features two primary objectives. Objective 1 focuses on the design and demonstration of AUVs in a swimming pool environment, meeting International RoboSub Competition standards. The winning team, comprising up to five students, will be sponsored by MoES-NIOT to compete in the International RoboSub Competition in the USA in July 2027.

Objective 2 introduces an Institute-Level Challenge Statement: “Coordinated Search and Localization Using Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs).” This challenge aims to promote indigenous development in coordinated marine search operations. NIOT will provide financial assistance of up to Rs. 5 lakhs per selected team/institution. This funding is intended to support the design refinement, fabrication, integration, field testing, and final demonstration of the Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs) in line with the challenge objectives. The funds will be released in accordance with applicable institutional norms and guidelines.

The winner and runner-up will receive cash prizes of Rs.1,00,000 and Rs.50,000, respectively.

 

***

SS/SH

(Release ID: 2260372) Visitor Counter : 218