BRACU Duburi, the first autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) team from BRAC University, has secured eighth place overall at the prestigious RoboSub 2026 competition held in California.
The team also achieved the highest ranking among the three Bangladeshi teams participating in this year’s global event, reads a press release.
RoboSub, regarded as one of the most prominent autonomous underwater robotics competitions in the world, is organised annually by RoboNation in the United States.
This year’s event took place at the Woollett Aquatics Centre in Irvine, California, featuring 58 elite teams from leading universities and research institutions.
BRACU Duburi’s performance saw them outperform several major global institutions, including Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Duke University. The team’s success was driven by two advanced AUVs designed to complete complex underwater tasks without human intervention.
Their primary vehicle, Duburi 4.5, is the latest iteration of a platform refined through years of research and development. It was deployed alongside DuboMini 2.0, a smaller secondary vehicle developed to explore compact and agile robotic systems.
Beyond the in-water missions, the team earned strong results in various technical categories, placing 6th in the Technical Presentation, 11th in the Technical Design Report, and 12th in the Team Video evaluation.
Reflecting on the journey, team spokesperson Tahirah Zannat Mim highlighted the significant hurdles they overcame, including visa complications, damaged equipment, and health issues. “Standing among the top teams globally and seeing our hard work pay off on an international stage makes every single one of those obstacles worth it,” she said.
The team’s participation was supported by HONOR Bangladesh, their official supporting partner.
HONOR Bangladesh Head of Business Abdullah Al Mamun expressed pride in the initiative, stating that supporting BRACU Duburi reflects a commitment to nurturing the next generation of engineers and fostering technology as a force for national development.
The achievements of BRACU Duburi demonstrate the capability of Bangladeshi students to solve complex multidisciplinary engineering challenges. Their success is expected to inspire students across the country to pursue careers in robotics, artificial intelligence, marine technology, and deep-tech innovation.
