About Us

RoBoat Robotics is a South Dakota Mines student organization focused on learning design skills and teamwork through participation in the yearly Roboboat competition put on by RoboNation. The goal of the competition is to create an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) that has to navigate various maritime obstacle courses and challenges. RoBoat Robotics employs a wide range of student disciplines from mechanical engineering majors to computer science majors to even physics majors.

Our Story

RoBoat Robotics was founded in 2021 by Kyle Houchin, Samuel Irwin, and Dr. Ferkmandi. The team grew from there to about eight members. The team spent the first year creating the first-generation boat, which laid the groundwork for the second-generation boat.

The team grew to 11 members in 2022, and using elements of the previous design finished the second-generation boat which actually went to the club’s first competition in Spring of 2023.

The team now sits at 14 members and is currently working on both upgrading the second-generation boat as well as starting the design for the third-generation boat.