SeaPerch
SeaPerch International Challenge
Build an underwater robot from PVC pipe and motors for well under a hundred dollars, then race and manoeuvre it.
Run by RoboNation
Key facts
- Eligible grades
-
Elementary, middle and high school students are eligible to compete
Stated in RoboNation's team handbook. The previous listing omitted elementary school. Divisions and eligibility at regional competitions are set by the regional coordinator and may differ from the International Challenge.Source, checked 2026-09-01
- Eligible ages
-
Not confirmed. This organiser may set eligibility by grade rather than age. We do not convert one into the other.RoboNation defines eligibility by school level, not age.
- Individual or team
- Team · For the International Challenge, teams are limited to a maximum of 12 team members including students and chaperones, with a maximum of 4 chaperones. So a team with 4 chaperones may bring at most 8 students.
- Where it runs
- In person · United States, International
- Entry cost
- Very low: kits are typically under $200 per vehicleNot confirmed. Kits are purchased through the RoboNation Shop; RoboNation recommends about one kit per 2 to 4 middle or high school students, or 4 to 6 elementary students. Regional and international registration fees were not stated on the pages checked.
- Registration deadline
- Set locally, not published as a single national date Set by each regional competition. 2027 dates not published.
- Competition dates
- 2027 dates not yet published. For reference, the 2026 International SeaPerch Challenge was held the weekend of 30 May 2026 at the University of Maryland, College Park, with the pool competition on Saturday 30 May and Sunday 31 May.
- Difficulty
- Open to beginnersNo prior competition experience assumed. If you can do the school-level material, you can enter and score points.
- Prizes
- Trophies and international challenge qualificationNot stated on the official pages checked.
What SeaPerch is
SeaPerch is the lowest-cost underwater robotics competition available to schools. Teams build a remotely operated vehicle from PVC pipe, waterproofed motors and pool noodles, following a published build guide, then compete in an obstacle course and an underwater challenge course. The materials cost is a fraction of any other robotics league, which makes it a realistic option for a school with no budget.
How the competition works
Two components: a Pool Competition demonstrating high-speed manoeuvrability, navigation and object manipulation, and Design Documentation presenting the team's work and vehicle design. Each season has a new theme and tasks. Teams build the ROV from a kit of low-cost, easily obtainable parts.
Eligibility notes
Separate middle and high school divisions. Teams register through a school or community organisation with an adult coach.
Is SeaPerch right for you?
- Experience needed
- None. SeaPerch is designed as an introductory build and the guide walks through every step.
- Time commitment
- A few weeks of building plus pool testing time.
- What you actually do
- You build a small underwater robot from pipe and motors, then pilot it through an obstacle course and a task course in a pool while judges also review your design report.
A good fit if
- Your school has no robotics budget
- You want a hands-on build without a season-long commitment
- You want an entry point before MATE ROV
Probably not for you if
- Teams looking for an advanced engineering challenge, who should look at MATE ROV
Common mistakes
- Testing only in a bucket. Buoyancy and trim behave completely differently in a full pool.
- Neglecting the design report and presentation, which are scored alongside the in-water performance.
- Poor waterproofing on motor joints, which is the single most common cause of a failed run.
How to register
- Download the free build guide and check what a kit costs for your region.
- Find your regional competition through the SeaPerch site and register with an adult coach.
- Build the vehicle, then test it in water early. Waterproofing failures are the most common problem and only show up wet.
- Write the technical design report as you build rather than afterwards.
What skills you need
- Basic soldering and wiring
- Waterproofing
- Buoyancy and trim
- Piloting
- Technical writing
Recommended resources
-
SeaPerch official site
Free build guides, curriculum, regional directory and competition rules.
-
SeaPerch build manual
The complete free construction manual with parts list.
Past problems and materials
Only materials the organiser or an authorised archive publishes openly are listed here.
- Past challenge courses and rules
Published free by RoboNation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it actually cost?
A SeaPerch vehicle is built from PVC pipe, small motors and basic electronics, and kits have typically cost under $200. It is by a wide margin the cheapest robotics competition in this directory.
How is it different from MATE ROV?
SeaPerch is an introductory build with a published guide and a simple vehicle. MATE ROV is an open engineering challenge with industry-style documentation and much more advanced vehicles. Many teams do SeaPerch first.
Reviews, tips and resources from other students
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Something out of date?
If a deadline, fee or eligibility rule on this page no longer matches the official site, flag it and it goes into the review queue.
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