The 2026 Mission is based on the following scenario. A powerful storm swept through, leaving behind damaged infrastructure, disrupted communications, and environmental hazards. Vehicles are deployed to demonstrate how coordinated action can turn disaster into resilience:
Assessment & Discovery: Vehicles are deployed to inspect bridges, dams, and communication nodes, gathering the critical information needed to understand the scope of damage.
Recovery & Repair: Vehicles work to reconnect power and communication lines, stabilize dam structures, and clear debris to restore safety and functionality. Yet recovery is not only about rebuilding what was lost; it’s also about protecting the future.
Environmental & Public Safety: Vehicles conduct water sampling to ensure safe drinking supplies and rescue displaced wildlife, underscoring the responsibility to restore balance for both communities and ecosystems. The Mission includes the following tasks:
Due to floodwaters, the bridge supports could be damaged, creating unseen underwater hazards that need inspection. The ROV must navigate bridge supports, retrieve the red marker float, repair the support beam, and release the green marker float.
To prevent any further flooding or damage, the dam needs to be surveyed and repaired to identify any cracks or failures. The ROV must move the plug to the hole in the dam, and rotate the cover to close the flood gate.
Floodwaters bring hazardous debris that can obstruct waterways and ecosystems. The debris needs to be cleared to allow for safe navigation and environmental recovery. The ROV must relocate the displaced marine life, and remove the heavy submerged debris.
The flooding may have contaminated the water supply and needs to be tested before normal activities can resume. The ROV must retrieve the water sampler and return it to the Surface Vessel.
2.2.1 Course Layout
The Mission Course consists of a surface vehicle located next to the pool wall, two task frames that will be suspended 5-6 feet below the water surface. A full breakdown of how the course is built can be found in the Pool Course Build Guide.
A PVC structure representing a Surface Vessel will be placed by the pool wall where team members and judges are positioned. This structure will serve as the start and end point of Mission Course runs.
One plug (Task 2) will hang below the surface vehicle structure.
Front Platform
The front platform is the platform closest to the pool wall. This platform includes the broken bridge pillars and the broken pipe (Task 1). At the start of the run, marine life will be positioned on the platform (Task 3).
Back Platform
The back platform includes the wall of a dam (Task 2), the heavy submerged debris (Task 3), and Water Sampler (Task 4).
2.2.2 Navigation Overview
Start of run: The ROV must be under its own power and surfaced within the outline of the Surface Vessel. Team members are not allowed to touch the ROV after the lane judge begins the countdown to start the run. The tether cable does not have to go through the open area of the Surface Vessel. Teams are allowed to position the Surface Vessel along the wall within the lane.
End of run: The run is complete with the ROV surfaces (any part of the ROV breaks the surface of the water) within the outline of the surface vehicle located next to the pool wall. The run will end if the allotted time expires even if the ROV has not completed the course.
Objects falling past the suspended task frames are out of play and the ROV is not allowed to attempt to retrieve them.
ROV Not Surfaced
End of Run - ROV Surfaced
The ROV may transport multiple objects simultaneously. Objects may be moved between platforms for staging without completing the task. (For example, the plug can be moved to the front platform before moving to the dam after completing other tasks.)
2.2.3 Task Descriptions
Task 1: Inspect the Bridge
The ROV must navigate bridge supports, retrieve the red marker float, fix the broken pipe, and release the green marker float. At the start of the run, the red marker float will be floating above the back right bridge pillar, the green marker float will be hooked on the front left bridge pillar, and the broken pipe will be uncovered. All Task 1 elements are located on the Front Platform.
Task 1.1: Retrieve the red marker float, and hook on the back right bridge pillar.
Task 1.2: Slide the cover pipe to the left to fix the support beam.
Task 1.3: Release the green marker float at the front left bridge pillar.
Task 1.1: Retrieve the red marker float, and hook on the back right bridge pillar.
Task 1.2: Slide the cover pipe to the left to fix the support beam.
Task 1.3: Release the green marker float at the front left bridge pillar.
Task 2: Survey the Dam
The ROV must move the plug to the hole in the dam, and rotate the cover to close the flood gate. At the start of the run, the red plug will be located on a hook on the Surface Vessel, and the red flood gate will be located on the slanted dam wall on the Back Platform.
Task 2.1: Lift and place the plug in the hole on the slanted dam wall.
Task 2.2: Rotate the flood gate cover to close the flood gate.
Task 2.1: Lift and place the plug in the hole on the slanted dam wall.
Task 2.2: Rotate the flood gate cover to close the flood gate.
Task 3: Clear the Debris Field
The ROV must relocate the displaced marine life (SeaPerch fish) and remove the heavy submerged debris (weighted object). At the start of the run, the marine life will be located on the Front Platform, and the debris will be located on the Back Platform.
Task 3.1: Retrieve and place marine life on the Back Platform.
Task 3.2: Lift heavy piece of submerged debris.
Task 3.3: Place heavy piece of submerged debris on a hook on the Surface Vessel.
Task 3.1: Retrieve and place marine life on the Back Platform.
Task 3.2 and 3.3: Lift and place heavy piece of submerged debris on a hook on the Surface Vessel.
Task 4: Sample Water Quality
The ROV must retrieve the water sampler and return it to the Surface Vessel. At the start of the run, the water sampler will be open and located on the Back Platform.
Task 4.1: Lift and close the water sampler, positioned on the Back Platform.
Task 4.2: Place water sampler on a hook on the Surface Vessel.
Task 4.1: Lift and close the water sampler, positioned on the Back Platform.
Task 4.2: Place water sampler on a hook on the Surface Vessel.
Scoring Overview
Teams are scored and ranked based on completion of tasks and time. A full scoring breakdown can be found in Section 4.1 Pool Competition Scoring.
