Mission Statement:
Design a high-performance digging attachment that maximizes breakout force through precision hydraulic integration, balancing raw power efficiency with superior durability. Deliver a winning concept for the ROV digging head design challenge.
- Mechanical Advantage & Design: Robust digging head geometry optimized for hard pack soil penetration and structural integrity. The focus will be on achieving the highest possible breakout force—the maximum torque applied at the tip.
- Hydraulic Precision: Leverage hydraulic systems to provide consistent, high-pressure force. The design must ensure fluid efficiency, minimizing pressure across the valves and actuators to ensure every bit of hydraulic energy translates into movement.
- Power Optimization: System that operates and energy constraints. Optimizing the theoretical "power-to-dig" ratio, Perform heavy-duty tasks without hydraulic fall off.
- Skill-Centric Control: Interface design and feedback utilize pilot controls. relying on the synergy between the hardware's capability and the operator's ability to manipulate depth of dig under complex underwater terrain.
- Concept Phase: Prioritizing theoretical breakout force, design sketch and hydraulic use.
- Narrowing the Field: Focusing on the top 50 designs that show the most promise in breakout power, weight and convergence to the ROV and pilot.
- Narrowing the Field: top ten to top five.
- Scale engineering: run top 5 in engineering software narrow top 3
- Small-scale models: validate real-world durability before the final build.
- Prototyping: Top two build full scale Test both on ROV best data outcome results win.
We build our own systems — but we're always looking for better. Even if we've built something similar, results win. Period. If you improve it, you earn it. Winning designs are rewarded — regardless of what we've already built. The best ideas rise.
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1System Architecture Drawing Full drawing of the digging tool with hydraulic schematic
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2Drive Motor Configuration Specify the drive motor setup and how it powers the system
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3Pressure Protection Safety and redundancy systems to protect against failure at depth
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4Breakout Pressure Strategy How the system survives the pounding. Show your math.
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5Estimated Dimensions Must fit on the subsea Avalon tractor platform or harvester
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6Power Budget Demonstrate the system works with 2–100 HP or 2–150 HP motors
| Category | Focus |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Advantage & Design | Breakout Force |
| Hydraulic Precision | Fluid Efficiency |
| Power Optimization | Power-to-Dig Ratio |
| Skill-Centric Control | Pilot Interface |
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Pilot Command Center Challenge
A 4-stage skill and time challenge. Design a 3-station ROV control room layout optimized for real-world seafloor operations. Each station must support a different operator role: navigation, tooling, and sensor monitoring.
Submissions are judged on functional layout, operational efficiency, human factors, and adaptability. No prior ROV experience required — engineering creativity is what wins.
Design a compact, fly-by-wire hydraulic manifold system to power a next-generation Quad-Trac Subsea Harvester. System must maintain precision control under extreme environmental loads.
3,500 PSI Subsea Manifold Challenge
Design a hydraulic manifold for the world's most advanced subsea excavation system. Pure Fly-By-Wire Quad-Trac synchronization — electronic-over-hydraulic control for all drive functions.
This is a 4-stage challenge. Submit your architecture, survive the cut, build a prototype, and see your design deployed on the Avalon platform.
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