Team Black Pearl

Name: Team Black Pearl
Address: Underwater Robotics Laboratory (URL), Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NAME), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka, DHAKA-1000, BD
Telephone: +8801732046270

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We are a team of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering from BUET.

We participate in international ship design competitions and are now expanding into underwater robotics, extending our expertise from surface vessels to subsea technologies.

18/06/2026

A Bangladeshi student team that previously earned international recognition for ferry design has embarked on a new journey in underwater robotics, aiming to develop advanced autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for real-world applications and international competition.

Team Black Pearl first began its journey in 2021 when it represented Bangladesh at the World Ferry Safety Association (WFSA) International Student Design Competition for a Safe and Affordable Ferry. The team focused on designing ferries that were safe, affordable, and tailored to local needs, ultimately securing the championship title in 2025.

Read more in the comments

16/06/2026

Team Black pearl, AGAIN!

The countdown to California has officially begun!

Following our proud legacy of global engineering triumphs, Team Black Pearl from BUET is stepping into the deep end. We are thrilled to drop our official Team Introduction Video for RoboSub 2026 where we will represent Bangladesh on one of the grandest underwater robotics stages in the world!

Building a fully Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) from scratch takes a powerhouse of specialized minds. From grueling late-night debugging sessions to complex hydrodynamic modeling, here are the core pillars bringing our AUV to life:

⚙️ Design & Hull Team: The architects of structural integrity. They are the ones optimizing our lightweight structures to ensure our sub handles underwater pressure, minimizes drag and maintains absolute stability beneath the surface.

🧠 Control & Autonomy Team: The brain of the operation. They write the algorithms, train the vision models and implement the logic that allows our AUV to navigate complex underwater environments entirely on its own.

⚡️ Electrical & Power Team: The central nervous system. They manage the complex routing, power distribution systems and custom PCBs that keep our sub energized and safely functioning under water without missing a beat.

📣 Media & Outreach Team: The voice and face of Team Black Pearl. They connect us with the world, secure vital partnerships, capture our journey from the lab to the pool and ensure our story inspires the next generation of STEM innovators.

🏆 About the Competition: RoboSub 2026
Organized by RoboNation, held annually in Irvine, California. Teams from top-tier universities worldwide must design and build an AUV capable of conquering realistic, highly complex underwater tasks—like visual tracking, obstacle avoidance, and precise target shooting—completely autonomously. It’s the ultimate test of maritime engineering, AI, and raw determination.
We are ready to leave our mark. Watch the video, meet the team, and join us on this historic voyage!

12/06/2026

Our journey as Team Black Pearl, started in 2021 when we represented Bangladesh at the WFSA International Student Design Competition for a Safe, Affordable Ferry. Since then, we've designed ferries that are safe, affordable, and built for local needs and in 2025, we clinched the CHAMPION TITLE! 🏆

Inspired by this victory, our faculty advisor Prof. Dr. Zobair Ibn Awal envisioned something bigger : underwater robotics.

We've built a multi tasking underwater robot capable of complex operations in submerged environments powered by our team's proven expertise and dedication. We're not planning only to compete but also want to evolve into a startup to bring real world solutions:
🔹 Maritime surveillance
🔹 Environmental monitoring
🔹 Infrastructure inspection

This year, we're participating in two prestigious international competitions: ROBOSUB 2026 – USA and ROBOTX 2026 – Singapore. This milestone marks the start of our journey in underwater robotics.

Our vision: Build a world class underwater robot that performs in freshwater and saltwater, contributing to global underwater research, advancing technology and aiding resource exploration.

Driven by our teachers, seniors, alumni and the people of Bangladesh, we're determined to become one of the most renowned underwater robotics teams in the world!

28/05/2026

The countdown to California has officially begun!

Following our proud legacy of global engineering triumphs, Team Black Pearl from BUET is stepping into the deep end. We are thrilled to drop our official Team Introduction Video for RoboSub 2026 where we will represent Bangladesh on one of the grandest underwater robotics stages in the world!

Building a fully Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) from scratch takes a powerhouse of specialized minds. From grueling late-night debugging sessions to complex hydrodynamic modeling, here are the core pillars bringing our AUV to life:

⚙️ Design & Hull Team: The architects of structural integrity. They are the ones optimizing our lightweight structures to ensure our sub handles underwater pressure, minimizes drag and maintains absolute stability beneath the surface.

🧠 Control & Autonomy Team: The brain of the operation. They write the algorithms, train the vision models and implement the logic that allows our AUV to navigate complex underwater environments entirely on its own.

⚡️ Electrical & Power Team: The central nervous system. They manage the complex routing, power distribution systems and custom PCBs that keep our sub energized and safely functioning under water without missing a beat.

📣 Media & Outreach Team: The voice and face of Team Black Pearl. They connect us with the world, secure vital partnerships, capture our journey from the lab to the pool and ensure our story inspires the next generation of STEM innovators.

🏆 About the Competition: RoboSub 2026
Organized by RoboNation, held annually in Irvine, California. Teams from top-tier universities worldwide must design and build an AUV capable of conquering realistic, highly complex underwater tasks—like visual tracking, obstacle avoidance, and precise target shooting—completely autonomously. It’s the ultimate test of maritime engineering, AI, and raw determination.
We are ready to leave our mark. Watch the video, meet the team, and join us on this historic voyage!

27/05/2026

"Team Black Pearl" wishes everyone a joyous and blessed Eid ul Adha! May this sacred occasion bring happiness, prosperity, faith and togetherness to all.

Eid Mubarak!

20/04/2026

Proud moment for Team Black Pearl!

We are glad to be featured in the context of the article “Worldwide Ferry Safety Association Announces Niger Ferry Design Winners” published by Marine Log, a leading international maritime industry news platform covering global ship design, marine engineering, offshore operations, and shipping innovation.

The article highlights the Worldwide Ferry Safety Association (WFSA) 2026 Niger River Ferry Design Challenge, a global student competition focused on solving real-world inland waterway transport problems through engineering design.

The challenge required teams to design a safe, affordable, and practical 200-passenger ferry for the Niger River in Nigeria — one of the most complex inland waterways in the world.

Key engineering constraints included:
⚠️ extremely shallow draft conditions (~0.9m)
⚠️ strong safety risks including piracy in river transport routes
⚠️ continuously shifting river channels and erosion challenges
⚠️ limited shipbuilding infrastructure in the region
⚙️ demand for hybrid / renewable propulsion and energy-efficient systems

The competition emphasized not just conceptual design, but real-world feasibility, affordability, constructability, and operational safety in developing environments.

Being part of this global conversation strengthens our drive as we continue our journey toward RoboSub 2026 🇺🇸, pushing forward in underwater robotics and marine engineering innovation.

📎 Article link: https://www.marinelog.com/passenger/ferries/worldwide-ferry-safety-association-announces-niger-ferry-design-winners/

17/04/2026

Team Black Pearl | First Underwater Operation Test — Ship Model Testing Centre, Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

Big day for the team!

We just completed our first underwater operation test at the Department of NAME, BUET, and the results have given us more confidence than ever heading into RoboSub 2026.

The tank at the Ship Model Testing Centre of the NAME Department, BUET, was used for this test. It provides a testing facility of up to 3 meters of underwater depth.

Here’s what we put to the test:

Watertight Integrity — Every compartment was sealed and pressure-checked under real water conditions. No leaks. No compromises. Our electronics stayed dry.

Sensor Behaviour — Cameras, IMUs, and onboard sensors were monitored live throughout each run, verifying response accuracy, stability, and data consistency in an actual aquatic environment.

Manoeuvrability — Turning radius, directional control, thruster response — we pushed the AUV through a range of manoeuvres to validate how well it holds its intended path and responds to commands underwater.

Grateful for the incredible support from the Department of NAME, BUET, for giving us access to the tank facility at the Ship Model Testing Centre.

RoboSub 2026 — the deep doesn’t scare us. It calls us 🖤

14/04/2026

শুভ নববর্ষ! 🌸

নতুন বছরের নতুন সূচনায় আমরা নিয়ে আসছি এক নতুন অধ্যায়—
আমাদের অফিসিয়াল ওয়েবসাইটের আনুষ্ঠানিক উন্মোচন।

স্বপ্ন, উদ্ভাবন আর আমাদের যাত্রার প্রতিটি ধাপ এখন এক জায়গায়—
ঘুরে আসুন:
https://www.teamblackpearl.com

এই পহেলা বৈশাখে থাকুক নতুন শুরুর অনুপ্রেরণা,
আর আমাদের সাথে থাকুন আগামীর আরও বড় অর্জনের পথে।

**শুভ ১৪৩৩!** 🌼

12/04/2026

A day of ideas, testing, and relentless iteration. From concept to execution—this is what building looks like.

Every small step brings us closer to something bigger.

Address

Underwater Robotics Laboratory (URL), Department Of Naval Architecture And Marine Engineering (NAME), Bangladesh University Of Engineering And Technology (BUET)
Dhaka
DHAKA-1000

Telephone

+8801732046270

Website

http://www.teamblackpearl.com/

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