AUV-IIT Bombay delivered an outstanding performance at the global RoboSub 2026 competition in California, competing against 58 elite teams from nine countries.

Following a year of relentless R&D and intensive testing, the team secured several accolades across categories:

1st Place – Overall (Wildcard Challenge)
1st Place – Overall (Website Evaluation)
2nd – MathWorks Simulation Challenge
2nd – Design Documentation
3rd Place – Technical Design Report
5th Place – Global Autonomy Challenge

Two vehicles, one milestone! This year marked a historic breakthrough for the team, which successfully deployed its flagship vehicle, Matsya 7, operating completely in parallel with the new Mini Matsya. Working in tandem, this dual-vehicle system enables the vehicles to execute complex underwater tasks with enhanced speed and accuracy. Additionally, after years of development, the team successfully executed the intricate gripper task, involving the manipulation of multiple underwater objects.

This achievement was made possible through the unwavering support of IIT Bombay, Luxonis, DEXA and the team's other sponsors, along with the continuous encouragement and support of the Institute leadership, including Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay; Prof. Suryanarayana Doolla, former Dean (SA); Prof. Shrikrishna V. Kulkarni, Dean (R&D); and other members of the Institute administration. The team extends its sincere appreciation to Prof. Shashi Ranjan Kumar and Prof. Leena Vachhani, Associate Dean (R&D), for their dedicated mentorship and unwavering support throughout the project.