Coronado robotics students pilot Navy underwater drones at BBMAC

Coronado middle and high school students piloted two U.S. Navy underwater robots on Sept. 10 at the BBMAC pool.

Students in the Coronado Robotics Academy, known as CoRA, drove and maneuvered the Navy's "Defender" and "Blueye" remotely operated vehicles during a training session guided by Navy professionals, the Coronado Times reported. The session was open to all seventh- through 12th-grade members of CoRA's FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) competition teams.

The students practiced underwater navigation, complex maneuvering and real-time communication while operating the ROVs. The session also showed them how core robotics concepts they study in the classroom, such as mechanical engineering, electronics, coding and design, apply directly to underwater naval systems.

Madeline Ruddick, who handles mechanical engineering and CAD design for Coronado High School's Sentinel team, said her favorite moment was diving into the water with the Defender ROV while her teammates cheered her on. Ruddick said the experience brought together her interests in robotics, marine biology and mechanical engineering.

Will Molloie, a mechanical engineer and programmer on the Filament Force One team, said he learned to move the ROV in every direction and grab items from the bottom of the pool. He said the training showed him how underwater robots can locate objects in the ocean and scan the ocean floor.

The session was a hit.

Roberta Lenert, Coronado Unified School District's director of robotics, said the training put the district's "Portrait of a Graduate" goals into practice. She said students applied critical thinking and collaboration while discovering how their robotics skills extend beyond the classroom, and she credited the Navy for investing in CoRA students.

CoRA, which the district formally opened on Sept. 25 at 555 D Ave., supports more than 180 students across ten competition teams and after-school clubs spanning elementary through high school, according to the Coronado Times. The Coronado Schools Foundation has backed the robotics program since its early days, and the district credits Lenert's leadership with driving its growth.

The Navy training session took place about two weeks before that ribbon cutting, giving CoRA's competition-level students an early look at the kind of partnerships the new facility aims to support. No date for a follow-up session has been announced.