09/06/2026
On August 15, 11 Middleboro kids aged 8-18 capped off a 6 week underwater robotics project called SeaPERCH, with a time trial competition in the town pool as part of BoroBot's first annual Underwater Robotics Extravaganza! We are able to offer this program free thanks to your donations. We are a federally recognized 501c3 charity focused on education, and If you'd like to donate any amount to see us do more of these activities, please visit BoroBot.org/donations to make a tax deductible contribution. Thank you in advance for any amount!! All dollars go directly to our programming and equipment.
SeaPERCH is a program put on by RoboNation and it gives a framework for the construction of an underwater robot with basic hardware store materials. It was a 6 week program meeting up on Saturdays with 4 build days, 1 pool test day, and a final competition
The kids were broken up into 4 teams by age and coached by our volunteer coaches (some of whom are middleboro youth) to build their robots. Teams learned how to work together, with their hands and some basic hand tools to build the robot frame, then wire, solder, and waterproof the motors, solder their own printed circuit board controller, and then tweak the buoyancy on their craft with our indoor water tank before testing and competing in the town pool.
The competition theme was about waterway cleanup, and focused on piloting through several hoops and picking up and moving floating and sunken debris. All teams were successful in grabbing some floating and some sunken debris - maybe some watershed cleanup robots might be in their future??
Thanks to the Middleboro Parks Department and their employees for the collaboration, and for giving a free swim to our attendees after the competition was over. The town pool is a beautiful and idyllic spot to host this competition, and we are so thankful for your hospitality!
Finally let's give it up for this group of kids who worked hard to get to this point and had the courage to compete in front of almost 100 people. We hope this is a beginning/continuation of their story in STEM!
Donor shoutout
Kristen Szadis for coordinating a donation from Hannaford, but also donating an electric griddle so we could cook the hot dogs.
Morrison Carpentry of Middleboro - $300
The Rowe Family - $200
The Crosbie Family - $100
Hannaford Markets - $100
And many more donations from team members families or from those just looking to support us totaling close to $1000 on the day.
Volunteer shout-out
Earl Geden
Caleb Crosbie
Liam Szadis
Kyle Frenette
Joe Serpa
Jakob, Tyler
Ryan Gamache
Jane Tsoumas
Judy Bigelow-Costa
Chelsea Hodnett
Declan Tessier
Declan Alchorn
Amelia Tracz
Kristen Szadis
Teams and results
First Place - 500pts Team Tidal Wave coached by Declan Tessier and Declan Alchorn
Carter Spavento - 9
Teddy Rowe - 10
Austin Pottle - 10
Second Place - 275 pts Team Titan-Submersible self-coached with an assist by Caleb Crosbie
Ryan Gamache - 18
Isabella Bennett - 16
Third Place - 135pts Dawgs coached by Earl Geden and Amelia Tracz
Lucas Lawson - 8
Jasper Hanson - 8
Maddox Herman - 9
Runner Up - 85 pts Team AquaBusters coached by Joe Serpa and Rich Oakley
Logan Courtney - 12
Patrick Ellis - 12
Eleanor Carbone - 12
