International Student Teams Converge at Nathan Benderson Park for the 17th Annual RoboBoat Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SARASOTA, FLORIDA – RoboNation, a nonprofit organization devoted to robotics education and workforce development, will conduct the 17th Annual RoboBoat Competition at Nathan Benderson Park (NBP) in Sarasota, Florida. Nineteen student teams from around the world will be at NBP from February 5 – 11, to showcase their autonomous robotic boats in this annual event.

Competing teams have spent the last year designing and building self-driving robotic boats. During the competition, the boats will have to complete a series of tasks testing acoustic navigation, sensing, speed, object recognition, and more. Returning champion Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (Barunastra ITS) from Indonesia will join a diverse field of university and high-performing high school teams.

“In terms of education and workforce development, hands-on programs like the RoboBoat competition are very valuable. RoboNation is helping bridge the gap between the lessons students are learning in the classroom and the real world, positioning these students as ideal candidates to meet the demands of the global workforce,” stated Lindsey Groark, Vice President of Programs.

The RoboBoat Competition is open to the public from 9:00am to 5:00pm February 5 – 11. Media Day is scheduled for February 6, 2024 from 10:00am – 2:00pm. RoboBoat Finals will take place on February 11, 2024, with the exact times to be determined. To stay updated on the event, visit roboboat.org.

“Nathan Benderson Park is pleased to host RoboNation again this year,” shared Bruce Patneaude, Chief Operating Officer at Nathan Benderson Park. “RoboBoat is a unique event that brings the world’s brightest young minds to the Sarasota-Bradenton area. They engage in competitions and embrace challenges that test the limits of their determination and innovation. We are proud to welcome RoboNation, an organization that cultivates a passion for learning, challenges ingenuity, and promotes a drive for excellence.”

This marks the third year RoboBoat will be held at Nathan Benderson Park, showcasing the valued partnership with the park and the greater Sarasota community. RoboBoat, is one of RoboNation’s nine international robotics education programs. Additionally, RoboNation will be returning to NBP to host the biennial Maritime RobotX Challenge in November 2024.

About RoboNation:
RoboNation, a nonprofit organization, is on a mission to provide hands-on robotics education, empowering students to tackle global challenges. With a portfolio of nine educational programs spanning K-12 and university levels, RoboNation cultivates the next generation of engineers, manufacturers, fabricators, programmers, and more. Participants in RoboNation programs represent the highly skilled workforce of tomorrow. Learn more at robonation.org.

Media Contact:
Alicia Gavin
Director of Communications and Marketing, RoboNation
Email: agavin@robonation.org
Phone: 571-455-4156