ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, CANADA – July 8, 2026 – Student-built underwater robots made MATE ROV Competition history in Newfoundland and Labrador as teams from 16 countries competed –including in saltwater for the first time – during the 2026 MATE ROV Competition World Championship.  

Hosted in St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada, this international competition challenges students to design, build, and deploy remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) in extreme ocean environments

 Reusability & Sustainability: Making SeaMATE Kits Last

At MATE, longevity and reusability are central to our approach to marine technology education. SeaMATE kits are designed to support hands-on STEM learning while helping educators maximize materials across multiple classes, projects, and school years. By creating kits that can be refreshed, rebuilt, and repurposed, students not only gain valuable engineering experience, but also learn the importance of sustainability and responsible resource use.

The Competition Is Over, But The Work Continues

Your competition is over and you are not advancing to the World Championship. Is your season over? Not quite yet. It is time to get ready for next year.

TriggerFish: Transition to Joystick Control

In underwater robotics, movement is everything. How a robot responds, turns, and navigates through the water depends on a careful balance of forces, motors, and control systems. That's where the TriggerFish ROV Kit stands out. Designed to introduce students to more advanced piloting, the TriggerFish Kit shifts from simple on/off controls to analog joystick control, giving users a more realistic and responsive driving experience.

PufferFish ROV: More Skills, More Learning

When students are ready to move beyond basic assembly and dive deeper into engineering, PufferFish ROV Kit is the next step.

If you’re looking for a hands-on way to introduce engineering, robotics, and teamwork to young learners, the SeaMATE AngelFish ROV is where confidence—and curiosity—begin. Designed specifically for elementary and middle school classrooms, homeschool co-ops, and short after-school programs, AngelFish is a true beginner kit that turns big STEM ideas into achievable, exciting wins.