Clinton students qualify for International SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Competition

The Daily Telegram
·3 min read
Clinton High School's Team Bazooka Space Sharks, from left, Zak Shadley, Jacob Gilson and Caden Arntz, operate a robot on the Mission Course during the Michigan Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Competition March 18 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Clinton High School's Team Bazooka Space Sharks, from left, Zak Shadley, Jacob Gilson and Caden Arntz, operate a robot on the Mission Course during the Michigan Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Competition March 18 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Clinton High School STEM team OceanPerch, from left, Robert McDonald, Jaren Settles and Brian Ferree (not pictured is Gabe Manchester) qualified for the International SeaPerch in May after wining first place overall during the Michigan Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Competition March 18 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Clinton High School STEM team OceanPerch, from left, Robert McDonald, Jaren Settles and Brian Ferree (not pictured is Gabe Manchester) qualified for the International SeaPerch in May after wining first place overall during the Michigan Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Competition March 18 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Clinton Middle School team Dandruff, comprised of Cole Hillegonds, Jacob Pizio and Broden Manchester, won first place overall and qualified for a slot in the international competition during the Michigan Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Competition March 18 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Clinton Middle School team Dandruff, comprised of Cole Hillegonds, Jacob Pizio and Broden Manchester, won first place overall and qualified for a slot in the international competition during the Michigan Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Competition March 18 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
An underwater robot surfaces at the end of the Obstacle Hoops Course before it resubmerges and travels back to the starting point during the Michigan Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Competition March 18 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
An underwater robot surfaces at the end of the Obstacle Hoops Course before it resubmerges and travels back to the starting point during the Michigan Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Competition March 18 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Clinton Middle School students, from left, Shawn Baughey and Brandon Ruhl of Team The SSS maneuver their underwater robot through the Obstacle Hoops Course during the Michigan Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Competition March 18 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Clinton Middle School students, from left, Shawn Baughey and Brandon Ruhl of Team The SSS maneuver their underwater robot through the Obstacle Hoops Course during the Michigan Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Competition March 18 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Team Bazooka Space Sharks from Clinton High School — from left, Zak Shadley, Jacob Gilson and Caden Arntz — drive an underwater robot through the Obstacle Hoops Course during the Michigan Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Competition March 18 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Team Bazooka Space Sharks from Clinton High School — from left, Zak Shadley, Jacob Gilson and Caden Arntz — drive an underwater robot through the Obstacle Hoops Course during the Michigan Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Competition March 18 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Clinton schools STEM teams earned first place overall in both the high school and middle school divisions at the Michigan Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Competition to advance to the international competition in May.

The competition March 18 at M-City on the University of Michigan campus brought in 52 middle and high school teams from as far away as Petoskey and Columbus, Ohio, according to a news release from the Clinton schools. Also attending and faring well in their first year in the competition were middle and high school teams from Lenawee Christian School.

The SeaPerch challenge is comprised of four events:

  • Pool mission course: A series of tasks requiring robots to open doors, transport sinking and floating items, and navigate through complex structures.

  • Pool obstacle course: Testing robot high-speed maneuverability through a series of hoops at varying depths and angles.

  • Team video: A recording of the design process and reflection on what was learned through the project.

  • Technical design report: A report documenting the development of unique remotely operated vehicle features including the design prototypes and their testing results.

The challenge was co-hosted by Clinton Community Schools and the U-M Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department.

The International SeaPerch Challenge will be May 13-14 at the University of Maryland. The International SeaPerch event brings in approximately 250 teams from seven countries and 80 regionals across the U.S.

Out of 39 high school teams, Ron Schaffner’s Clinton High School STEM team OceanPerch, comprised of Jaren Settles, Robert McDonald, Brian Ferree and Gabe Manchester, won first place overall in the high school division and qualified for a slot in the international competition, first place in the team video course, first place in the pool obstacle course and first place in the pool mission course.

Out of 13 middle school teams, Mike Krauss’s Clinton Middle School team, Dandruff, comprised of Cole Hillegonds, Jacob Pizio and Broden Manchester, won first place overall and qualified for a slot in the international competition, first place for their team video, first place in the pool obstacle course, first place in the pool mission course, and second place for their technical design report.

Also performing well was Schaffner’s Clinton High School STEM team Bazooka Space Sharks, comprised of Jacob Gilson, Bradyn Lehman, Zak Shadley, Caden Arntz and Andy Fair. The team took first place for their technical design report, second place for their team video and second place in the pool obstacle course.

Another notable achievement involved Lenawee Christian middle school team Remington, led by teacher Joshua VanCampen, earning a third-place finish in the pool mission course in their first year competing.

“The Michigan Regional SeaPerch Challenge could not have succeeded without the generosity and support of the University of Michigan’s Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department, M-City, and the incredible support of the Clinton Community Schools administration, school board, maintenance, transportation, and staff,” Schaffner said in the release. “Hundreds of students across the state and beyond were able to engage in a valuable STEM experience like SeaPerch because of their investment.”

More information about SeaPerch and the international competition can be found at: seaperch.org/programs/2023-season/.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Clinton students qualify for international robotics competition in May