We are Slugbotics, UCSC's robotics club!
Gathering together after a general body meeting, these are members from the MATE ROV, Underwater Robotics project!
This year, we are fortunate enough to host several projects, with about half of them being research based and the other half being competition based.
Our research-based projects include:
1. Autonomous Vehicle Research
2. Aviation / Drone Research
And our competition-based projects include:
1. Combat Robotics
2. MATE ROV, Underwater Robotics Competition
3. SUAS Competition
4. ROVER Team
All of our research teams are making progress, and are working hard to develop prototypes of their work. Going into winter and spring quarters, students will transition from prototyping to building and finalizing their research or competition projects.
James and Swifty working on the prototype of an autonomous drone that they hope to use for wildfire applications.
Our autonomous vehicle trained using the CARLA simulator.
Our competition teams continue to grow and represent UCSC across the nation. The ROVER team and the Aviation/Drone team are preparing for their first-ever competitions (the 2026 University Rover Challenge in Utah and the 2026 SUAS competition in Oklahoma) while our Underwater Robotics team is preparing to return to the 2026 MATE ROV Competition in Canada. Combat Robotics competes throughout the year, and their most recent competition, the Norcal Smackdown, was hosted by us, right at the Baskin Engineering Courtyard!
Through these projects and competitions, students are gaining real-world skills that help them make an impact in the industry.
Andy and Web working with motors for their underwater robot.
"Record Scratch" and "Love Tap", our two champion Combat Robots, boasting their battle scars from prior competitions.
For any student who would like to join Slugbotics, no prerequisites are needed. If a student has experience, great!
If not, no worries at all, because during the fall and winter quarters of the academic year, veteran members and team leads host workshops to onboard students with necessary skills to make an impact on their project.
Workshops cover a variety of topics and are subject to change year over year, depending on what projects we are working on.
A few common themes include:
- Learning how to proficiently use Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software
- Learning how to design and work with custom Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs)
- Learning how to properly use machines (CNC Mill, CNC Router, 3D printers, laser cutters, etc.)
- Learning the basics of LLMs and AI for machine learning
- Learning the fundamentals of embedded systems
Team lead Nivedita working with another member using CAD to 3D model last year's underwater ROV.
3D model of our 30-pound vertical spinner battle bot, which debuted in competition last quarter.
Electronics being troubleshot before the Aviation Research team's maiden flight.
Salvaging electronics and materials we already have, the ROVER team has started designing the first version of their 2025-2026 Mars Rover.
Your donations mean the world to us and are what keeps Slugbotics going.
Truly, without the help from our community, we would not be able to make our projects happen. Thank you so much.
