Welcome to the aQuatonomous Newsletter (Fall 2025 | October Edition).
After wrapping up an incredible 2024–25 season, we’re back for another year of innovation, collaboration, and impact. We represented Queen’s University at the international RoboBoat competition in Florida and earned recognition as one of the top design teams on campus. Now we’re taking what we learned and pushing harder.
Founded by women at Smith Engineering, aQuatonomous is dedicated to advancing autonomous marine technology for the good of the planet. We design, build, and program Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs), self-navigating boats that support ecological research and sustainability.
Every project we take on is guided by our four mission pillars:
We’re proud that every initiative aligns with at least one United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG), especially those related to climate action, clean energy, and life below water.
After a highly successful recruitment season, aQuatonomous has welcomed a talented new cohort of members across all sub-teams. With diverse backgrounds in engineering, computing, environmental science, and design, new recruits are already contributing ideas and energy to projects spanning mechanical innovation, autonomy, and ecological research.
This growing team marks one of the largest and most multidisciplinary lineups in our club’s history.
With hiring season officially wrapped up, our dynamic 2025–26 crew is ready to dive in. We’ve expanded across five sub-teams:
Our Business Team has also hit the ground running by developing sponsorship packages, managing outreach, and crafting this newsletter to keep partners connected and informed.
The Mechanical Team has begun 3D-printing hull sections using newly arrived filament, marking a major step in this year’s boat design. Early test prints have shown excellent structural performance and precision, setting the stage for full-scale fabrication of our 2025–26 hull.
Focused on enhancing power efficiency and safety, the Electrical Team is exploring new heat dissipation solutions for high-power components and developing integrated solar charging systems to improve sustainability and system endurance.
The Systems Integration Team is ensuring seamless communication between software and hardware through MAVROS integration, connecting the Jetson, Pixhawk, and motor controllers to achieve precise, real-time navigation.
This year’s theme is Integration and Impact. After a successful competition debut, our focus now shifts toward refinement, research, and community engagement.
Our top priorities include:
We’re also exploring how aQuatonomous can contribute to open-source robotics communities by sharing knowledge that empowers others to design sustainable technologies.
“Last year was about proving we could compete. This year is about proving we can lead.”
Grace, Business Director
“Our mission has always been about more than just engineering. It’s about building technology that truly benefits people and the planet.”
Brian, Sponsorship and Outreach Lead
We’re grateful for the ongoing support of our sponsors, mentors, and community partners. If you’re interested in partnering, donating, or hosting a workshop, your contribution helps keep our project sustainable and accessible to all students.
