Reach

ARVP visited Copperstone Technologies in 2026 for an up-close look at their projects and robots.

Another year, another opportunity to share robotics with the future. We had the opportunity to table at Science Fun Day and share the work we do with those attending. Whether it be colouring sheets, old electrical boards, or Kenai itself, there was something for both young and old to learn from.

Among the families that attended was an ARVP alumnus, from back in our land vehicle days. Just as it was interesting for them to see how the club had grown since their graduation, it was nice to see kids being exposed to and taking interest in robotics at a young age.

ARVP had the opportunity to showcase our robotics work and engage with students interested in engineering and technology at the annual APEGA Science Olympics. Throughout the event, the ARVP team interacted with participants, answered questions about our projects, and shared insights into robotics and engineering design.

The students were enthusiastic while working through their challenges, developing innovative solutions, and working together as a team. The event served as a valuable opportunity for ARVP to promote engineering outreach and highlight the educational opportunities that robotics can provide for young learners.

Overall rating: 8/10

A joint shawarma and samosa sale was held in collaboration with the Muslim Students Association. The event was organized to bring students together and strengthen a sense of community at the University of Alberta while also supporting community programs and club activities. All proceeds went to funding Iftar meals on campus, and the club endeavours.

The collaboration of both student organizations created a good opportunity for students to connect, share ideas, and support each other.

Overall rating: 8.5/10

Once again, ARVP was invited to Mecha Mayhem, where we engaged with attendees by sharing our goals, demonstrating our work, and showcasing our robot. Our booth at Mecha Mayhem was designed to inspire students to explore robotics opportunities at the University of Alberta, bridging the gap between high school and university-level robotics.

We encouraged students to pursue their interest in robotics and consider becoming part of the ARVP community. The event was a valuable opportunity to inspire future engineers and build meaningful connections between students and the industry.

Ratings: 9.0/10

ARVP hosted a competitive Mario Kart tournament within the club to end off the month. The activity encouraged friendly rivalry and strong team bonding, promoting a positive and engaging atmosphere. It was also a great way to integrate new winter recruits and bring all sub-teams together.

We used this time to connect outside of our club responsibilities and build closer friendships within the team. ARVP continues to foster strong relationships among members, creating a more connected and cohesive team environment.

Overall rating: 8/10

Many thanks to ISS Mine Safety, our new sponsor, for their generous support!

It was exciting to welcome our newest sponsor, ISS Mine Safety, to the U of A for a visit. They got to check out our club room and meet our members. We presented our robots, Kenai and Koda, in action and gave them a better understanding of what we do.

This visit not only strengthened our relationship with ISS Mine Safety, but also showcased how much their support contributes to our projects and growth.

Overall Rating: 10/10

ARVP participated in the Winter Clubs Fair, introducing new faces into the team and club’s culture. The winter clubs fair brought a great opportunity to ARVP to teach people about ARVP’s goals, club culture, and structure. Such a relaxed environment encouraged potential members to feel included.

Beyond goals and culture, ARVP was able to bring new members into the club and introduce them to the team, welcoming them and building a sense of unity.

Overall rating: 7.5/10

The members of ARVP came together to participate in a friendly game of GeoGuessr (U of A edition), hosted by the Business Sub-Team. Participants were challenged to identify various locations around campus, testing their familiarity and mental map of the university.

The event fostered friendly competition while promoting strong team bonding. To end things off, everyone gathered for a celebratory dinner to recognize and reflect on the team’s accomplishments throughout the year. ARVP continues to organize events like this to support team growth and strengthen connections among members.

Overall Rating: 8/10

ARVP was invited by the Maarifa STEAM program to deliver a presentation to share our passion for robotics with the younger generation. Maarifa STEAM is a program that focuses on promoting hands-on learning, innovation, and problem solving.

By sharing our experiences and walking students through our presentation, we aimed to spark curiosity and encourage them to explore future opportunities in STEAM fields. This opportunity helped ARVP build meaningful connections, inspire others, and promote interest in robotics.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Each year, ARVP celebrates Halloween by hosting a festive event that brings team members together outside the workshop. Through costumes, activities, and shared experiences, the event promotes connection, teamwork, and a strong sense of community.

This event helps everyone express themselves and learn to know each other as more than just teammates but people to trust and rely on. This social event was much needed to improve team bonding and remind everyone that we are a team that can rely on and trust one another.

Rating: 9/10

This year the team had the opportunity to participate in the RiseX conference, both as attendees and as an exhibitor. It proved the perfect chance to learn about all the work being done in industry and in research, connect with professionals, and make friends that have shared interests.

Not only did we gain insight into how we could improve our systems but it showed what possibilities the future holds — how alumni have helped shape what we see now and how current members can contribute down the road.

The ARVP came together to play a friendly competition of volleyball after their work session. After intense work and stressful deadlines, the ARVP team came together to get some exercise, feel refreshed and have lots of fun. The different sub-teams were able to take a mental break and blow off some steam.

Taking regular breaks is essential for reducing stress and maintaining overall well-being. This social activity was a good reminder to step away from work and have some fun together.

Overall rating: 8/10

For the 2025-26 year, ARVP started with hosting the Annual General Meeting to introduce ARVP to new potential members. With so many events in September, ARVP ended the month by hosting a BBQ to welcome everyone and build community within the team!

This meeting allowed us to introduce our new goals and initiatives for Koda, Kenai, and the club as a whole. With presentations, pizza, and plenty of community, the AGM was a great success with more than 400 new sign-ups ready for onboarding.

ARVP’s general meeting and welcome BBQ gave everyone the chance to ask questions, share ideas, and build a strong sense of community.

Overall rating: 9/10

We held this year’s community showcase on May 18, 2025 at Kinsmen Recreation Center. With both a livestream and in-person components, our technical prowess, presentation skills, and coordination were put to the test to ensure the event ran smoothly.

Despite some technical difficulties with the livestream, we were able to show off our progress and what we’ve been doing over the past year. All-in-all the community showcase was an overall success. One alumni said it was really nice to see mini-bot as the club had talked about having two robots for a while, and now it is a reality. Not only were we able to replicate our semi-finals run with Arctos, Koda also completed the gate task for the first time!

Overall rating: 8.25/10

The event showcased our team’s growth and technical achievements, demonstrating both our primary robot Arctos and our newer companion robot Koda working together to complete competition tasks.

On April 5, 2025, ARVP had the honour of tabling during APEGA’s Science Olympics. We had the opportunity to answer any questions asked of us while participants tapped into their inner innovator as they were competing and creating designs to win. Watching the youth’s excitement about their designs reminded us of why we were initially drawn to the world of engineering. Overall, it was fun to catch a glimpse of the next generation in action — maybe we even met a future engineer or two!

Overall rating: 7.5/10

The event provided an excellent platform for ARVP to engage with young minds and showcase the exciting possibilities in robotics and engineering education.

ARVP was thrilled to represent the U of A once again at Mecha Mayhem 2025! This 3-day VRC competition brings together teams from across Canada and beyond to showcase their engineering and robotics skills. We shared what ARVP does with high school students while introducing them to autonomous robotics and the University of Alberta’s new mechatronics program. Attabotics and Garmin were some among the multiple companies present with which we had the opportunity to speak to and learn about their work.

Overall rating: 8.25/10

The event provided valuable opportunities for both outreach and professional networking, connecting us with the broader robotics community while inspiring the next generation of engineers.

Big thanks to Copperstone Technologies for having us back for the third year in a row! They gave us an in-depth tour of their facility and introduced us to their Helix amphibious robots used for hazardous site inspections. It was a great evening of learning!

The visit provided valuable insights into real-world applications of robotics technology and reinforced our connections with industry professionals working at the cutting edge of robotics innovation.

Science Fun Day gave us the opportunity to introduce robotics to children ranging from 5-12 years old. Parents and children alike were interested in our work, and while it was a bit of a challenge to explain just exactly “what is robotics” and all the work that is done by the club, we were able to rise above and ensure that the event was enjoyable for everyone.

Overall rating: 8.75/10

The event was particularly rewarding as we witnessed the genuine curiosity and excitement of young minds discovering the possibilities of robotics and engineering for the first time.

Correct AI is an Edmonton company that develops Industrial Robotics and Artificial Intelligence technology designed to prevent construction incidents and collect data on equipment operation through proximity detection. Thanks to Correct AI’s technology development manager for giving ARVP an interactive presentation and answering some burning questions the team had about his company and work.

The presentation provided valuable insights into the practical applications of AI and robotics in industrial settings, particularly in safety-critical environments where technology can help protect workers and improve operational efficiency.

ARVP is about more than just building robots; it is also about building community. In November, we hosted a Halloween party to give members a chance to relax, connect, and meet alumni in a casual setting. New members had the opportunity to learn from past leaders, while alumni saw the energy and talent driving the club forward. From board games to a few rounds of Grounders, it was a fun way to tap into our playful side and strengthen the bonds that keep ARVP moving ahead.

Overall rating: 7.5/10

The Halloween party served as an important reminder that strong teams are built not just through shared work, but through shared experiences and genuine connections between members.

AGM

Every fall, ARVP holds our annual general meeting (AGM). During this event, we present the club’s work to other students, give a recap of last year’s competition, and the execs introduce themselves to everyone. It is a good opportunity for students and members alike to learn about the other subteams and meet new people. And of course, there was free food for all who came :)

Overall rating (AGM): 7/10

BBQ

Not long after the AGM, we held a barbecue at Emily Murphy Park! Alumni, members of the project group community, and recruits all came together to celebrate the start of the new school year. There was lots of food to go around, and a few rounds of capture the flag fostered everyone’s competitive spirit. All in all, it was a chance for everyone to hang out and just have fun.

Overall rating (BBQ): 8.75/10

The combined events successfully kicked off the academic year while strengthening community bonds across the ARVP family.

After months and months of prepping, ARVP finally had the pleasure of unveiling our latest robot, Arctos, to our sponsors and community! With a presentation detailing what has been in the works to get to this day, to a live demo of Arctos doing autonomous tasks, and pre-qualifying for RoboSub 2023 all on the same day! Thank you to our members for working endlessly to move this team forward and share your learnings with the community!

The unveiling represented a major milestone in ARVP’s development, showcasing not just our technical capabilities but also our commitment to community engagement and transparency in our work.

ARVP welcomes back Lancôme’s robotics club for another live demo! This year they get to see our new robot, Arctos in action! Teaching them what kind of systems and environments we use to get Arctos working. Letting them have a go at remotely controlling the robot and doing some barrel rolls through the gate, with some demonstrations of our early autonomy progress on Arctos!

This follow-up visit built on our previous relationship with the high school, providing students with hands-on experience and demonstrating the evolution of our robotics capabilities.

ARVP started off the new year with a solid first community pool test; partnering with Kinsmen Sports Centre, who graciously allowed us to book their deep tank every Saturday to test Arctos! These weekly tests are open to the community to come watch and engage with our team to learn more about the club and robotics!

The community pool tests became a regular fixture in our outreach efforts, providing consistent opportunities for public engagement while allowing us to conduct essential testing of our underwater vehicles in a controlled environment.

Every year, ARVP participates in our annual University’s Clubs Fair! We ran a booth and small BBQ on campus grounds, followed by an overview presentation of the club’s workings, and what students can learn and get out of it by joining! Hoping to engage our community with robotics!

The Clubs Fair provides an excellent opportunity to recruit new members and showcase our work to the broader university community, helping us connect with students who share our passion for engineering and robotics.

In our Winter Term, ARVP reached out to one of our local high schools to teach aspiring young students about robotics and autonomy with our TIE fighter bot, Auri which helped us place 4th at RoboSub 2022! Hopefully giving them a taste of what they can do with their own robotics club!

This outreach event was part of our commitment to inspiring the next generation of engineers and sharing our passion for underwater robotics with students who are just beginning to explore STEM fields.

Early in the school semester, ARVP got invited to Copperstone Technologies — a Canadian-based engineering firm specializing in design, production and operation of robots — for a tour and presentation insight on the processes of their work! Our members enjoyed a long day of learning and hope to come visit again!

This visit marked the beginning of a strong relationship with Copperstone Technologies, providing our members with valuable exposure to real-world robotics applications in industrial settings.