RIVERSIDE, CA - Despite relentless downpours, the 2024 SeaPerch Regionals, hosted by the University of California, Riverside's College of Engineering, witnessed an impressive display of robotic ingenuity from young innovators. Among the standout contenders were the teams from Eleanor Roosevelt High School (ERHS), who made their mark in the underwater robotics competition held on Saturday, March 23rd.

The annual International SeaPerch Challenge is an invitation-only event that tests the skills learned in the SeaPerch program with a series of obstacles and real-world inspired tasks. ERHS entered two teams into the competition. Undeterred by the inclement weather, crowds gathered to support the competing students, including ERHS partner Norco's Naval Surface Warfare Center, as they navigated the challenging underwater obstacle courses.

SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program that equips students, educators, and parents with the resources they need to build an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) in an in-or-out of school setting.

The ERHS teams clinched a total of four trophies, securing top-three positions in the technical design report, mission course, and obstacle course categories. Their remarkable efforts propelled one of the teams to a commendable second-place overall finish.

Despite their stellar performance, technical difficulties dashed their hopes of securing the top spot as a motor malfunction on the mission course ultimately derailed their plans. This fiercely competitive environment allows only the first-place team to advance to Baltimore. ERHS left an indelible mark on the 2024 Seaperch Regionals, serving as an inspiration for aspiring engineers and robotics enthusiasts everywhere.