This project is now in update mode. Check back regularly to see how things are progressing.
Building the future, below the surface!
For over 25 years, CUAUV has been one of the world’s top student-run engineering teams, designing, building, and competing with fully autonomous submarines. We are seven-time RoboSub champions—more than any other team in the world. Each year, over 50 Cornell undergraduate students come together to design our AUVs from the ground up. Our work is hands-on, student-driven, and fueled entirely by sponsors and donors like you.
Meet Scylla and Orion
Our two newest vehicles, Scylla and Orion, represent the next leap forward in CUAUV’s mission to push the limits of what underwater robotics can do.
- Scylla, our newest build for the 2025–2026 season, is a complete redesign focused on modularity, serviceability, and next-generation autonomy. With a new cylindrical UHPV, improved accessibility, and a streamlined frame, Scylla is engineered for faster iteration and more ambitious missions!
- Orion, completed during the 2024-2025 season, expanded on our “lunch box” design. It was engineered with a single-piece machined hull, robust actuators, a redesigned manipulator system, and advanced DVL positioning, granting us with greater precision and reliability!
Scylla is still in pieces today—but with your help, it will become fully realized by competition this July! But we’re more than a robotics team: we are educators, innovators, and mentors building the next generation of engineers.
Our impact goes beyond competition
We believe engineering should inspire, and we work every year to pay our knowledge forward. CUAUV members volunteer with Boy Scouts of America, Splash! at Cornell, Code Red Robotics, and other outreach programs to inspire young students to explore STEM. Your donation doesn’t just build submarines. It helps the next generation fall in love with engineering and problem-solving.
Why your support matters
Every dollar directly funds:
- Specialized sensors, cameras, and machining for our new AUV Scylla
- Electronics and manufacturing materials for student-built systems
- Competition travel so our team can represent Cornell on the world stage
Unlike other engineering programs, everything we build is designed and manufactured by students. This means your support has an immediate, tangible impact on student learning. By donating, you are empowering students to innovate, inspire, and compete at the highest level of collegiate robotics.
Thank you for helping us build the future and for making CUAUV the champion it is today!
As a registered student organization, we are committed to equal access to all of our programs and do not discriminate based on any protected identity status.
$10
Bubble Booster
Your donation keeps our testing days afloat by covering essential materials like hardware, fasteners, and testing supplies!
$25
Periscope Peeker
With your support, we can machine and waterproof our camera housings so our AUV can actually see underwater (and hopefully stop crashing into pool walls)!
$50
Sonar Sparks
Your donation powers the electronics that help our sub sense its underwater world (PCBs, tiny circuits, and all the gizmos in between)!
$100
Turbo Thrusters
Your support keeps us moving full steam ahead with high-performance thrusters, so our sub zip through the course instead of drifting like a jellyfish!
$250
Message in a Bottle
You will receive a personalized thank-you letter from one of our crew, sharing a sneak peek into the adventures happening deep in the CUAUV workshop!
$500
Name That Part
Get everlasting glory by naming a part of the sub. Choose something legendary, chaotic, or pun-tastic. We’ll label it, love it, and refer to it by your chosen name for the season!
$1,000
Captain’s Log
You will receive a custom video from our team, filled with gratitude, updates, and behind-the-scenes footage of our robotic sea creature in action!
$2,500
Admiral of the Fleet
You will join us for a live virtual demo of our AUV in action and your name will sail with us on the sub for the entire season!
$5,000
Master of the Seas
You will be named a Legendary Supporter for this season, recognized at competition, in our videos, and in every major team publication!