The Harbin Engineering University (HEU) team won first place at the 2019 International Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Competition (IAUVC), which concluded in San Diego, United States on Aug 4. This is the second time HEU has taken first place.

The International Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Competition, also known as the RoboSub Competition, is jointly sponsored by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)—the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems and robotics—and the United States Naval Equipment Research Center. It is the most prominent underwater vehicle competition in the world.

Underwater vehicles are assessed based on a comprehensive marking system. Vehicles will be scored on their performance in patrolling, shotting, grabbing targets, and acoustic positioning.

The competition began in 1998 and top universities from the United States, Russia, Canada, Singapore, Japan, and China compete in it every year.

Over the past 21 years, universities from Canada and the United States have dominated the competition. But a Chinese university has emerged victorious the past two years.

The Harbin Engineering University team poses for a group photo after winning the 2019 International Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Competition in San Diego, United States on Aug 4 local time. [Photo/chinanews.com]

Zhong Xiaokui, Harbin Engineering University’s underwater vehicle, is operated during the 2019 International Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Competition in San Diego, United States on Aug 4. [Photo/chinanews.com]

A screen shows Zhong Xiaokui underwater at the 2019 International Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Competition in San Diego, United States on Aug 4. [Photo/chinanews.com]