National Underwater Robotics Challenge

NURC is designed to be accessible to students and community members with a wide range of experience levels. Teams compete in divisions that allow participants to challenge themselves alongside peers with similar experience. Your team will be assigned based on the majority age range of its members, unless otherwise requested.

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No prior underwater robotics experience is required. Whether your team is building its first ROV from a kit or designing a custom vehicle from scratch, NURC encourages learning through hands-on engineering, teamwork, and iterative design. All teams submit technical documentation, present their work, and complete underwater mission tasks that simulate real-world engineering challenges.