Rize Deneyap Rov Teknofest Team

Everything began with our fascination for technology and our curiosity about the mysterious world beneath the sea. At the end of 2024, we set out with the idea of participating in the TEKNOFEST Unmanned Underwater Systems Competition. We did not merely want to compete; we aimed to create, grow, and leave a mark on the depths.

Our team took its name from this origin: Rize Deneyap ROV Team. Because we embarked on this journey from the shores of the Black Sea, from Rize. We reflected this city’s energy, hard work, and spirit into our project.

We came together as young people from diverse fields, united by a common passion. We combined our knowledge and effort across many disciplines including mechanical engineering, electronics, software, and design. Team spirit, the drive to create, and a love for research kept us united throughout this project.

When naming our project, we drew inspiration from history. Dragut, the nickname of Turgut Reis—one of the most unforgettable captains of the Ottoman navy known for his courage on the seas—became the name of our underwater exploration system.

Dragut is no longer just a device; it is the embodiment of our patience, effort, and vision. While building it, we aimed to design a system resilient to underwater conditions, highly maneuverable, and mission-focused. Every detail, from its hull to its electronic circuits, from its software to its waterproofing, was carefully planned and tested.

Our goal was not merely to participate in a competition or to win a ranking. Through this project, we sought to discover the power of creation, learning, and growth. We also aimed to contribute to Türkiye’s local and national technology vision and to demonstrate our own potential.

We began this journey with limited resources but boundless belief. As we progressed, we realized that young people can achieve great things if they choose to. This project was born at the point where imagination meets reality.

The TEKNOFEST Unmanned Underwater Systems Competition became a space where we directly confronted real engineering challenges. Within the competition framework, we were expected to:

• Navigate underwater routes,
• Detect obstacles and avoid collisions,
• Locate and retrieve objects.

To meet these tasks, we enhanced our technical expertise and strengthened our internal teamwork. We learned from every mistake and set higher goals after every success.

This process was not a matter of weeks; it became a marathon requiring months of patience, perseverance, and team collaboration. We advanced through three key stages:

In the first stage, we demonstrated to the judges how technically prepared our team was. We provided detailed explanations of our system design, planning, and mission strategies.

In this stage, we presented every detail of Dragut: design drawings, materials used, electronic systems, control algorithms, and safety measures. Each component was supported by documented evidence.

Then came the most exciting stage: the underwater test. We submerged Dragut into a test pool, executed the missions in practice, and recorded all activities. We encountered failures, resolved them, tried again, and ultimately, Dragut successfully completed all tasks, giving us moments of immense pride.

Because this was not merely a competition; it was a learning process through which we built our future. The things we gained here were not only technical knowledge; we learned team spirit, solution-oriented thinking, disciplined work, and the courage to move forward with belief.

And most importantly: the honor of presenting to Türkiye a local system conceived, designed, and built by our own hands, in our own city, from our own dream.

We still watch every test, every mission, with our eyes fixed on Dragut as it descends into the water. Because it is the physical manifestation of our dream.