Compete in the PIONEER class.
The PIONEER class is recommended for first time technical and community colleges, as well as first time four-year universities. PIONEER class teams must create a complex vehicle and have a deep understanding of electronics, electricity, waterproofing canisters, and other technology.
- The intention of the PIONEER class is to encourage, support, and sustain community/technical college and university team participation in the MATE ROV Competition.
- Participation in the PIONEER class is open to students in these institutions competing for competing for the first time. Note that “first time” is defined as:
- 75% of students on the team have not competed previously
and/or - A four-year university has never fielded a team before
and/or - A two-year community/technical college has not fielded a team in the last three years
- 75% of students on the team have not competed previously
- Community/technical college teams will be permitted to compete in the PIONEER class in consecutive years provided that they notify the MATE ROV Competition of their intention by December 31 of the previous competition year.
- Teams of mixed college/university and high school students are allowed to participate in the PIONEER class provided that the high school students:
- Are enrolled in classes at the college or university
- Do not make up more than 50% of the community/technical college team or 25% of the university team
- Students from two-year community/technical college teams who transfer to a four-year university that does not currently have a MATE ROV team may continue to participate as a member of their community college team in the PIONEER class.
The following are links to all of the information needed regarding mission tasks and specs.
- 2025 Preview Mission Task
- 2025 PIONEER Class Competition Manual_11_27
- 2025 MATE ROV Competition: Product Demo and Specs Briefing
- 2025 PIONEER Class Prop Building Instructions
- 2025 PIONEER Parts List
- MATE 2025 EXPLORER/PIONEER/RANGER Prop Demonstration and Q&A
- PIONEER Fly-through video [Vimeo] [YouTube]
- CAD model of EXPLORER environment
- Vertical Profiling Float
- Official Rulings Document
2025 Scoring Guide
- Company Spec Sheet
- 2025 Corporate Responsibility Score Sheet
- Product Demonstration
- Technical Documentation
- Technical Documentation Supplemental Information
- Marketing Display
- Engineering Presentation
- Scoring Rubric for Technical Documentation and Engineering Presentation
- Initial Safety Inspection sheet
- On-Site Safety Inspection sheet
- LASER Safety Inspection sheet
- NRD (Non-ROV Device) Inspection sheet
- 2025 Safety Tutorial
- 2025 SAFETY BRIEFING.mp4 on Vimeo