A team of Bangladeshi school and college students, titled “Project Poseidon’s Code”, has reached the semi-finals of the prestigious international autonomous underwater vehicle competition, RoboSub 2026, held in the United States.
The 13-member team comprises eight students from Dhaka Residential Model College (DRMC) and five others from schools and colleges across various districts in Bangladesh.
While Bangladeshi university students have previously seen success in robotics competitions, this achievement marks the first time school and college-level students from the country have reached such heights on the international stage.
Success in California
Organised by the US-based organisation “RoboNation” in association with US Office of Naval Research, the event took place from 11 July to 16 July at Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine, California. A total of 58 teams from nine countries participated in the final round following several selection stages.
Ishtiaque Ahmed Eyamin, a young researcher and first-year HSC student at DRMC, spoke to the Times of Bangladesh from California on Friday. He said they were among 11 teams participating for the first time. “Only two teams managed to successfully operate their robots underwater, and we are one of them”, Eyamin said.
Two additional Bangladeshi teams, consisting of university students, also qualified for the semi-finals.
Technical Innovation and Mentorship
The robot was designed to address complex problems in real-world environments.
Md Abid Hossain, a teacher at United International University (UIU) and one of the team’s mentors, said the vehicle features advanced sensors, an artificial intelligence-based decision-making system, autonomous navigation, real-time environmental analysis, and a modular design.
He added that these features allow the robot to operate reliably in harsh conditions and offer potential for future practical applications.
The team received laboratory facilities and training from UIU for nearly a year. Eyamin added that the competition provided a valuable platform for exchanging experiences with international researchers.
“A team from a US university has expressed interest in providing us with future mentorship, and the organisers have also pledged their support for our future endeavours,” he said.
