After months of late nights and countless hours spent building, testing and troubleshooting, a team of East Tennessee State University students is ready to test its underwater robot against some of the best student teams in the world.
ETSU’s team is competing in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, from June 24-27 at the MATE ROV World Championships. As part of the competition, students design, build and operate the robots in a series of tasks that replicate real-world applications – ranging from addressing climate change and marine renewable energy to aquaculture.
For team president Pearson Mills, the competition represents the culmination of all their hard work.
"We have worked almost every week throughout the year, and since classes ended, we've spent countless hours preparing," said Mills, who graduated from ETSU in May with a degree in biology and a minor in public administration. "This is my last competition, so I hope to represent ETSU the best we can."
The team has doubled in size over the past year and now includes 12 students from a variety of academic backgrounds. Mills said that thought diversity is a strength for the team.
"Our underwater robotics team functions like a company," he said. "There is room for any skill set on the team, not just engineering or computing."
Mills said they’ve worked tirelessly since the end of the semester to prepare for the competition and lauded his teammates for their commitment to the program – specifically Samuel Deaton, Luke Seal, Brandon Bartley, Yosr Souf, Patrick Lanham and Kytric Brownlee.
“Since classes have ended, we have worked almost every day for some weeks,” Mills said. “We have had a few times this summer that we have gotten there around two in the afternoon to start working, then stayed working until six in the morning.”
Beyond the tasks their remotely operated vehicles must complete in the water, teams must also submit extensive technical documentation of safety reviews, engineering plans and marketing materials, which account for more than half of the overall score.
Upon arrival at the competition, teams will undergo a rigorous safety inspection before being allowed to complete their two missions. ETSU’s team is one of three dozen competing in the Explorer division, which includes teams from Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States.
In total, nearly 90 teams will be competing in this year’s World Championships across three divisions. In the Ranger Division, local schools Elizabethton High School and Tennessee High School will compete.
Since ETSU first launched its team in 2021, the same year the university hosted the World Championships, the team has steadily improved its performance on the international stage. In 2025, ETSU earned a fifth-place finish among 24 teams for its technical documentation, with Deaton earning an Engineering Presentation MVP Award.
“At ETSU, we believe some of the most meaningful learning happens when students tackle real-world challenges,” said David Golden, CEO of the ETSU Research Corporation and vice president for MATE Inspire for Innovation. “The MATE ROV team exemplifies what is possible when talented students from different disciplines come together to design, build and compete at an international level.
“Along the way, they develop the technical, leadership and problem-solving skills that will serve them throughout their careers,” he continued. “We are proud to see these students representing ETSU and our Region on the world stage.”
Mills said he’s most looking forward to the pace and environment of competition. He reflected on last year’s competition, when the team had to scramble to find a replacement fuse, eventually receiving one from a rival team, only to not end up using the part the fuse was for.
“That is part of the pace, chaos and environment I look forward to, even though it can be really stressful at the time,” said Mills.
ETSU students interested in getting involved in the program can email rov@etsu.edu for information. Mills said the program is also always seeking community support.
