The US Navy spends over $60B annually on ship maintenance, where the hazardous work environment claimed the lives of 50 sailors last year. For this reason, our team developed GANER, the Gaucho Autonomous Navy Environment Robot, to replace humans and lead the ship maintenance industry in both safety and cost efficiency. 

Our unique mechanical design includes a low center of mass, magnetic treads, and a multipurpose gripper, all of which optimize stability and reliability. These aspects allow GANER to climb and descend steep staircases, open latched doors, and engage with wall panels, all while balancing in a rocking, wave-affected environment.

Our electronics team created robust manual and autonomous control using ROS2. GANER can be conveniently controlled by a PlayStation4 controller and has semi-autonomous capabilities. The autonomous system operates by collecting and analyzing data from various peripherals, assisting the pilot to navigate through challenging obstacles.