Competition
Autonomous underwater robotics is an exciting challenge in engineering, which participants get to experience at SAUVC. The competition is great learning ground for participants to experience the challenges of AUV system engineering and develop skills in the related fields of mechanical, electrical and software engineering.
Mentorship
Participants will have access to mentors and support. Teams will be assigned liaisons who will be able to provide mentorship and technical guidance as the teams work on designing and building their AUVs. SAUVC emphasises outreach, learning and skill development and we want to ensure everyone learns and grows through the course of SAUVC.
Guest speakers
The competition will also feature workshops and lectures from world renowned experts in the field of marine robotics and autonomous underwater systems to inspire participants with new ideas and techniques to solve challenges and build an interest in careers related to marine robotics.
Get-together
The competition is also about meeting others like us, who are also interested in underwater robotics and autonomous systems, to get to know one another, to share ideas and make connections.
The SAUVC competition challenges participant teams to build an AUV which can perform given tasks. These tasks are simulations of tasks operational AUVs would have to be able to perform. The competition is held in a swimming pool and each team's AUV will have to perform 4 tasks. The speed and accuracy at which the AUV performs tasks will be used to decide the winner of the competition.
The tasks involve four widely faced challenges underwater such as AUV navigation, visual identification, acoustic localization and robotic manipulation.
Detailed explanation of the various tasks of the competition and rules are in the Rulebook v6.0.0.
Detailed explanation of the various tasks of the competition and rules will be published shortly.
The competition is open to participants from all over the world. A team may consist of up to 11 participants including faculty supervisors. At least half of the participants must be non-professionals (students, hobbyists, hackerspace members, etc) at the time of registration.
Flying in
The Sanya Phoenix International Airport (SYX) is your gateway to SAUVC Sanya. Conveniently located about 15 kilometers from downtown Sanya, the airport offers excellent connectivity with domestic and international destinations. You'll find a variety of ground transportation options including taxis, ride-hailing services, airport shuttles, and hotel transfers to reach your accommodations and the conference venue with ease.
More InformationAlternative Airports
While Sanya Phoenix International Airport is the primary choice, there are alternative airports that may suit your travel plans. (1) Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK), Located approximately 3.5 hours from Sanya by high-speed rail or car, Haikou serves as another major international gateway to Hainan Island. (2) Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), For some travelers, flying into Hong Kong and then connecting to Sanya via a short direct flight (about 1.5 hours) may be a convenient option. Whether you're flying directly into Sanya or connecting through another major hub, getting to the SAUVC 2026 host city is straightforward and well-supported by multiple travel options.
More InformationVisa
Refer to this link for information. For invitation letters, teams can approach the committee who will direct them to the Sanya local organizing committee to obtain invite letters. This will be done after teams are short-listed (based on video) to attend the competition.
More InformationGet Around
By Ride-Hailing or Hotel Shuttle- Popular apps such as Didi Chuxing (China's version of Uber) operate in Sanya and provide direct service from the airport to the venue. By bus- Sanya has over sixty bus routes, operating from around 06:00 to 23:00. The ticket prices follow a distance-based fare system. In addition, there are many privately-operated shuttle buses.
More InformationAofei Culture & Sports Group Sanya Yazhou Sports Park and Citizen Fitness Centre, Yazhou Avenue No.382, Yazhou. Here is an Apple Map
By Local Transport
By Ride-Hailing or Hotel Shuttle- Popular apps such as Didi Chuxing (China's version of Uber) operate in Sanya and provide direct service from the airport to the venue.
We are very grateful and would like to say a big Thank You to all the sponsors of SAUVC over the years.
The sponsors for SAUVC 2026 are below. Interested in encouraging underwater robotics? Contact us through our website
