
​Our goal is to design, manufacture, test, and compete with an autonomous boat capable of decision making and complex path planning using computer vision. We compete in the annual Roboboat competition, run by Robonation.
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* Scroll below to find Spring 2025 application information!*
Cornell University
AutoBoat Project Team
About The Crew
We are a student-run team of hardware and software engineers, dedicated to building and innovating in the field of naval architecture and marine robotics.
Our driven members challenge themselves in a fast-paced work environment, while also making lifelong connections with incredible people.
Check Out Our Team Video!
Spring 2025 Recruitment
Recruitment for Spring 2025 is NOW OPEN!
​Important Dates:
1/28 - Information session at 5 PM (Upson 152)
1/30 - Applications Due
2/12 - First Offer Date
2/21 - Project Team Add Deadline
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If you have any questions regarding recruitment, feel free to email one of our team leads featured on the team page.
The 2024-2025 Competition Cycle
Incremental hardware updates, significant software changes, and an emphasis on testing. Read more about each phase of the process below.

Testing
On-water testing is the team's main priority this year. This gives the software team as much time as possible to develop and troubleshoot AI, CV, and controls code in an environment similar to competition. We test outdoors on a lake as much as possible. However, when weather conditions don't allow, indoor pool testing is crucial to stay on top of our timeline. In these cases, we use an ultrasonic positioning system in lieu of a GPS for positional tracking.
Design
This year's design cycle is focused on delivering small but impactful upgrades to the boat's hardware, and significant changes to the main codebase to improve performance in autonomous tasks. Some of the main projects are:
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New main hatch design
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New bridge decks and connector arms
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Modular electrical bay design
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New computer vision mast
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Buoy deflectors to avoid getting stuck on the course
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Upgraded and specialized PCBs for power distribution, kill switch, and POE injection
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​Upgrading to ROS 2 and a more powerful onboard computer (Nvidia Jetson AGX Orin)
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Making the AI codebase cleaner, higher quality, and more efficient through simulation and testing
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Making our vision ML model more reliable
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Integrating the VN-300 GPS/IMU

Manufacturing
This competition cycle did not see significant manufacturing, as the boat remains the same for another year. Most of the projects this year are manufactured by 3D printing, laser cutting, or simple manual machining. So, here's a time-lapse of last year's manufacturing team doing the fiberglass layup on our main hull mold.
Research
While most of the team is focused on preparing for RoboBoat 2025, a few members have begun doing research and early-stage design for more complex, longer term projects slated for competition in 2026. These projects include:
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The next boat
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Holonomic propulsion system
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3-DOF robotic arm
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Custom motor ESCs
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Custom buck-boost converters
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Active water cooling system
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LiDAR integration
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3D virtual simulations

Our Network
For many of our members, AutoBoat has served as a gateway to incredible opportunities in industry. Check out some of companies our current members and alumni have worked at.
