Desert WAVE, an all-women's robotics team from Arizona State University (ASU), recently made history by winning the prestigious RoboSub competition. This win is significant not only for its technical achievement but also for challenging gender norms in engineering. One of the key factors contributing to their success was the use of Water Linked’s Modem M16, which enabled critical intervehicle communication during the competition.
We had the chance to speak with Dr. Daniel Frank, the team’s mentor, about the journey that led to Desert WAVE’s victory and the important role Water Linked played in their success.
Dr. Daniel Frank with the Desert WAVE team
Mentoring Desert WAVE: A Passion for Engineering Education
Dr. Daniel Frank, Associate Teaching Professor at ASU, has long been passionate about robotics and engineering education. His experience ranges from competing in world championship autonomous boat competitions to mentoring high school students in robotics. He has dedicated over a decade to promoting engineering education in Native American communities and inspiring young people through hands-on technology projects.
“When I heard Fredi Lajvardi, the inspiration behind the movie ‘Spare Parts,’ wanted to start an all-women’s underwater robotics team at ASU, I jumped at the opportunity,” Dr. Frank explains. “I’ve always believed in the importance of mentoring and inspiring the next generation of engineers, and Desert WAVE seemed like the perfect chance to do that.”
Desert WAVE (Women in Autonomous Vehicle Engineering) began in 2018 as a partnership between the Si Se Puede Foundation and ASU. The team's goal was to show that women could thrive in the field of autonomous robotics—a field traditionally dominated by men.
“Our aim was to prove that if given the right support, a group of women could compete at the highest level,” Dr. Frank says.
Dr. Daniel Frank with the Desert WAVE team, preparing during RoboSub
The Challenge: RoboSub and the Importance of Communication
Desert WAVE decided to enter RoboSub, one of the toughest robotics competitions in the world. The event challenges teams to design autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) capable of completing complex tasks without human intervention.
“RoboSub is particularly difficult because of the six degrees of freedom and the underwater environment,” Dr. Frank explains. “You don’t have access to GPS, and leaks can be a constant worry. On top of that, intervehicular communication was a key mission this year, which added another layer of difficulty.”
Desert WAVE entered two AUVs into the competition: Dragon, a heavier and more complex machine, and Baby Dragon, a lightweight AUV designed to complete specific tasks. One of their key strategies was to have the two vehicles communicate with each other to achieve certain mission goals. This is where Water Linked’s Modem M16 came into play.
Baby dragon with Water Linked's Modem M16
Enter Water Linked: Modem M16’s Role in Desert WAVE’s Success
Water Linked’s Modem M16 enabled communication between Dragon and Baby Dragon, which turned out to be a crucial aspect of the team's strategy. After completing its mission, Baby Dragon would await instructions at the bottom of the pool. Once Dragon completed its tasks, it would send a signal using the M16 modem to instruct Baby Dragon to "go home" and float back to the surface.
“The intervehicular communication was one of the most challenging parts of the competition,” Dr. Frank recalls. “But the Modem M16 worked perfectly. We were the only team to successfully demonstrate meaningful communication between two AUVs, which gave us a huge advantage in the competition.”
Water Linked’s support also played a big part in the team’s success. When the team encountered an issue with setting up the modems, Water Linked quickly stepped in to help.
“There was a key moment when we couldn’t get the modems to communicate properly” Dr. Frank shares. “Water Linked helped us assess our setup and troubleshoot the issue, which made all the difference in getting everything to work.”
Modem M16 pre-installation testing
Reliable and Easy to Use
Desert WAVE first learned about Water Linked through one of their team members, who had come across the company during an internship. After reaching out, Water Linked sponsored the team with two M16 modems, and according to Dr. Frank, integrating them into their system was relatively easy.
“The modems were reliable, and integrating them was straightforward,” Dr. Frank says. “Once we had them set up, they worked flawlessly throughout the competition.”
Water Linked's Modem M16
A Partnership that Made a Difference
Desert WAVE’s victory at RoboSub is a story of innovation, teamwork, and the right tools coming together. Water Linked’s Modem M16 allowed the team to achieve seamless communication between their AUVs, which proved to be a key factor in their win.
Dr. Frank sums it up: “The M16 modems worked perfectly, and the support we received from Water Linked was fantastic. I’d recommend them to any team looking for reliable underwater communication technology.”
As Desert WAVE continues to inspire young women in engineering, their collaboration with Water Linked highlights the power of combining innovative technology with passionate mentorship to achieve remarkable results.
For more information about Desert WAVE, visit
https://www.desertwave.us/
For more information about Water Linked's role in Science & Academia, visit:
https://waterlinked.com/industries/science-and-academia
For more information about our Modem M16, visit:
https://waterlinked.com/modem-m16