Uncharted waters await for the biggest aquabot showdown of their young careers.
Nayland College student Zack Voyce and Nelson College student Marco Sneddon, both 13, are taking their underwater robotics skills to the International SeaPerch Challenge in Maryland, United States, in the deep end of May.
Nelson College student Oliver Hume, also 13, has been a weapon in the team’s preparations but will not be travelling.
The trio, who compete under the name Placeholders, took the plunge in the underwater robotics programme at Nelson Intermediate School two years ago.
Asked if they ever imagined their aquabot journey would take them overseas, Zack pauses before answering.
“I don’t think I could have ever imagined it,” he says.
The invitation to the world stage (or pool) followed a silver‑medal finish at last year’s National Aquabots Competition.
Since then, the three have spent countless hours poolside, tweaking and testing their fourth remote‑controlled aquabot build.
They have applied real‑world marine engineering skills, ensuring motors are watertight and fine‑tuning manoeuvrability ahead of the demanding international tests.
A hook has been added to the aquabot for one of the competition tasks, which involves lifting heavy debris underwater.
Teams will also be judged on a technical report outlining their aquabot’s design and on their ability to navigate an underwater obstacle course.
“We wouldn’t really not want to win,” Zack enthuses.
Fundraising efforts — including bake sales, sausage sizzles, firewood sales, raffles, a Givealittle page and support from local sponsors — has so far had ripple effects to their fundraising pool, with $10,000 the target to cover travel costs for Zack, Marco and two accompanying adults.
To support the team’s quest, visit givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-nis-aquabots-team-get-to-usa.
