QAST students develop underwater robots

QAST students develop underwater robots

A group of students from Qatar Academy for Science and Technology (QAST) have built underwater robots with guidance from an expert from Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq).

Using the skills they have learned in the classroom and applying them to real-world problems and overseen by the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) expert from Tamuq, the students learned about the engineering principles of remotely operated vehicles (ROV), including design, fabrication, and operation. The project also showed students that if built on a bigger scale, ROVs could be used to protect marine life, inspect underwater pipelines, and explore shipwrecks.

QAST students will represent Qatar in the 2022 International SeaPerch Challenge in June 2022, allowing participants to learn about robotics, engineering, science, and mathematics while building an underwater ROV.

Dr Mohamed Gharib, a specialist in STEM education at Tamuq – a Qatar Foundation (QF) partner university – said: “I am pleased to develop the underwater robotics programme for young students. This will engage the students in developing solutions for real-life challenges and inspire them to seek STEM disciplines at university.”

Dr Gharib said that the students built ROVs that could search for marine animals stuck in fishing nets, with the intention of taking