Timeline & Testing

JIT follows a staged testing process to validate the vehicle's mechanical, electrical, software, communication, and propulsion systems before advancing to full underwater operation. Testing progresses from laboratory inspections and bench testing to controlled water testing, with each stage designed to identify issues before the vehicle advances to the next phase.

Testing Strategy

The team uses a staged testing process to evaluate JIT before, during, and after integration.

JIT's testing process is divided into three primary stages:

1) Pre-Test Preparation

2) In-Water Testing

3) Post-Test Inspection

Each test begins with safety and equipment checks and is conducted with defined procedures for vehicle control, sensor validation, and emergency response.

Pre-Testing Preparation

Testing begins at the lab with an inspection of the vehicle, batteries, equipment, and environmental conditions. Weather is checked to ensure that no storms are expected within the next 3–4 hours, and all enclosure seals are inspected and repaired if necessary. The UUV battery is checked for swelling or damage and verified to meet the required specifications of at least 50 A continuous current, 120 A burst current, and 14.8 V. The team also confirms that the required equipment is available, including the multimeter, laptop, remote-control transmitter, radio communications antenna, iFixit toolkit, batteries, and other field equipment.

At the test site, the team scans the body of water for obstacles and reviews the test plan with the operational team. The remote-control transmitter is powered on with the detent in the E-stop position and the throttle centered before the vehicle battery is connected. All enclosure vent plugs are verified to be installed, the test area is cleared except for designated divers, and communication between the UUV and ground control station is confirmed.

A final leak check is then performed by briefly placing the UUV in the water and monitoring for large bubbles. The vehicle is removed from the water and the enclosures are visually inspected for signs of water ingress before testing begins.

 
 

In-Water Testing

Before the vehicle is armed, the pilot and diver(s) confirm that the UUV and test area are ready. The UUV is then armed and the arm state is verbally confirmed.

Testing begins with a stability and control test to verify that the vehicle responds correctly to remote-control commands. Forward and backward inputs on the right stick command forward and reverse movement, while left and right inputs command the vehicle to yaw in the corresponding direction. If the vehicle does not respond as expected, testing is immediately stopped and the UUV is removed from the water.

The attitude test verifies that the vehicle's measured orientation accurately corresponds to its physical attitude. If the measured attitude is incorrect, the appropriate attitude sensors are recalibrated before testing continues.

When required, a position drift check is performed to evaluate whether the vehicle maintains its position with minimal unintended movement. Excessive drift results in sensor calibration and additional testing before the vehicle proceeds to more advanced operations.

Post-Testing Inspection

At the completion of each test, the transmitter is returned to the E-stop position and verbally confirmed before the UUV is removed from the water. The battery is disconnected and stored in a LiPo safety bag, and the remote-control transmitter is powered off.

Once the vehicle returns to the lab, the batteries are recharged and the UUV is inspected for damage or water ingress. Test results are documented and any required repairs, calibration, or design changes are identified before the next testing cycle.

 
 

JIT Development Blog

As a new addition to the competition, JIT was developed on an accelerated timeline, requiring the team to complete design, fabrication, integration, and testing within a concentrated development period. Multiple systems were designed, assembled, tested, and refined in parallel as the vehicle progressed from its initial platform to a competition-ready system. The timeline below highlights the major milestones and development cycles leading toward RobotX 2026.

March 12, 2026 - Initial Platform Assembly

The BlueROV2 Heavy base model was assembled as the starting platform for JIT's development.

April 2026 - Initial Design

Components were ordered and the team's initial vehicle design and system architecture were developed.

May 2026 - Vehicle Assembly

As components arrived, the team began assembling JIT and integrating the systems developed by Team Minion.

June 2026 - Bench Testing

JIT was fully assembled and underwent initial bench testing to verify mechanical, electrical, and software interfaces before entering the water.

July 2026 - Initial Water Testing

Testing progressed from bench testing to water operation. A vehicle flood occurred during testing later in the month, allowing the team to identify and address waterproofing and system-integration issues.

August 2026 - Periscope & Water Testing

The periscope was designed and integrated into JIT. Water testing continued to validate the updated configuration and onboard systems.

September 2026 - Proof of Readiness Preparation

Water testing continued with a focus on system validation and preparation for the Proof of Readiness milestone.

November 2026 - RobotX 2026

JIT is scheduled to compete at the RobotX 2026 competition.