Team History and Accomplishments
2022 Season Results
During the 2022 season, the SEAL Robotics Team built a completely new ROV system from the ground up. We competed and took FIRST PLACE in the MATE Robotics Appalachian Highlands Regional Competition in Johnson City, TN on May 14, 2022!
The team then advanced to the MATE Robotics World Championship Competition in Long Beach, California on June 14, 2022, and earned FIRST PLACE in the World in our Ranger class!
2022 Season Team Members
- Owen Voorhees - Lead Electrical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, and Programmer
- Michael Scutari - Team CEO, Programmer, Electrical Engineer
- Ben Liebkemann - Lead Programmer
- Phillip Szypulski - Electrical Engineer, Video Expert
- Jonathan Bacon - Tech Writer, Marketing Officer, Webmaster, ROV Pilot
- Quinn Welch - Mechanical Engineer, CAD Designer
- Timothy Clay Austin - Mechanical Engineer and Programmer
- Marissa Maynard - Mechanical Engineer and Prop Specialist
SEAL Robotics Article Greensboro News and Record 2022
SEAL Robotics Article - Kingsport TN Times News 2022
2021 Season Results
During the 2021 season, the SEAL Robotics Team completed a number of robotics and STEM-related projects, including building underwater pod racers and homemade remote control cars.
During this season we also built a completely new ROV system from scratch, with state of the art dual grippers and drive software. This reliable system allowed us to earn FIRST PLACE at the MATE Robotics Appalachian Highlands Regional Competition in Kingsport, TN on May 1, 2021!
The team then advanced to the MATE Robotics World Championship Competition in Johnson City, TN in August 2021, and earned SECOND PLACE in the World in our Ranger class!
2021 Season Team Members
- Owen Voorhees - Lead Electrical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, and Programmer
- Michael Scutari - Team CEO, Programmer, Electrical Engineer
- Ben Liebkemann - Lead Programmer
- Phillip Szypulski - Electrical Engineer, Video Expert
- Jonathan Bacon - Tech Writer, Marketing Officer, Webmaster, ROV Pilot
- Rumi Kang - Electrical Engineer
- Li Yan Snyder - Marketing Director, Mechanical Engineer
- Quinn Welch - Mechanical Engineer, CAD Designer
- Caroline Ruppel - Mechanical Engineer, Tech Writer
- Nathan Ruppel - Mechanical Engineer
- Timothy Clay Austin - Mechanical Engineer and Programmer
2020 Season Results
The SEAL Robotics Team was fully engaged in designing and building a whole new system from scratch. This included brand new software, a new control box, a new robot, and a new gripper. It was a massive undertaking, but team members learned a ton by starting all over.
We had planned to complete at the MATE Robotics Appalachian Highlands Regional Competition in Kingsport, TN on May 10, 2020, but due to COVID-19 the competition was cancelled.
2020 Season Team Members
- Marissa Maynard - Overall Team Lead and co-CEO, Project Manager, Fabrication Expert, and Tech Writer
- Jonathan Bacon - Overall Team Lead and co-CEO, Project Manager, Tech Writer, and ROV Pilot
- Owen Voorhees - Lead Electrical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, and Programmer
- Logan Smith - Overall Team Lead, Challenge Expert, and Chief Safety Officer
- Nathan Ruppel - Challenge Design Expert and Mechanical Engineer
- Ben Liebkemann - Lead Team Programmer
- Michael Scutari - Programmer and Electrical Engineer, specializing in Visual Recognition Software
- Quinn Welch - Mechanical Engineer, CAD Designer, Fabrication Expert
- Li Yan Snyder - Mechanical Engineer and Marketing Director
- Phillip Szypulski - Electrical Engineer, Video Expert
- Ian M. - Electrical and Mechanical Engineer
- Rumi Kang - Electrical Engineer
- Caroline Ruppel - Mechanical Engineer and Tech Writer
- Erik P. - Mechanical Engineer and Tech Writer
2019 Season Results
The SEAL Robotics Team took 1st place in the Ranger class in our Regional Competition in 2019. We then advanced to the MATE International Competition (World Championship) in Kingsport, TN and took 5th place worldwide, among Ranger class teams. Worldwide in 2019, there were 741 robotics teams and over 10,000 students competing in MATE competitions, so 5th place worldwide is an outstanding accomplishment!
2019 Season Team Members
- Oliver Voorhees - Lead Engineer, Programmer, and CEO
- Logan Smith - Challenge Expert and Chief Safety Officer
- Nathan Ruppel - Challenge Design Expert and Mechanical Engineer
- Ben Liebkemann - Lead Team Programmer
- Owen Voorhees - Programmer and Mechanical and Electrical Engineer
- Marissa Maynard - Tether Manager, Construction Expert, and Tech Writer
- Jonathan Bacon - ROV Pilot and Programmer
- Michael Scutari - Programmer, specializing in Visual Recognition
- Timothy Clay Austin - Fabrication and Construction Expert
- Quinn Welch - Mechanical Engineer, CAD Designer, Fabrication Expert
- Li Yan Snyder - Mechanical Engineer
- Phillip Szypulski - Electrical and Mechanical Engineer
2018 Season Results
The SEAL Robotics Team advanced to the MATE International Competition (World Championship) in Seattle, WA and took 19th place worldwide among Ranger class MATE teams.
2018 Season Team Members
- Austin Ramey - Team Lead and CEO
- Oliver Voorhees - Lead Engineer and ROV Pilot
- Logan Smith - Challenge Expert and Safety Officer
- Nathan Ruppel - Challenge Design Expert
- Ben Liebkemann - Lead Java Programmer
- Owen Voorhees - Electrical Engineer, Arduino Programmer, and ROV Co-Pilot
- Marissa Maynard - Tether Manager and Tech Writer
- Jonathan Bacon - Challenge Prop Expert and Programmer
- Harrison A. - Graphic Design and Fabrication and Construction
- Jay J. - Fabrication and Construction