Dubomini, an autonomous underwater vehicle built by BRAC University’s student robotics team BRACU DUBURI, has won the Best Project Award at the 2026 Project Showcasing Competition, organized by the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).

Drawing entries from leading universities and institutions in Bangladesh, the competition was organized by IEB at IEB Headquarters in Ramna, Dhaka, on 13 June 2026 to give engineering students across the country a platform to showcase their work. 

The BRACU DUBURI team represented BRAC University at the event. The university has been supporting students in pursuing advanced research and building underwater robotic systems with practical, real-world applications since 2017.

Dubomini is a small robotic submarine that can operate on its own underwater, without anyone steering it by hand. 

It can move in any direction and orientation it needs to, much like a skilled swimmer twisting and turning underwater, allowing it to navigate tight spaces and complete tasks with precision. 

It runs on batteries, with a smart power system that keeps its motors and its “brain” or the onboard computer running independently of each other, so a power dip in one does not affect the other. 

Cameras and sensors let it sense its depth, direction, and surroundings, while onboard software helps it recognize objects and obstacles and decide how to react, much the way a self-driving car reads the road. 

All of this lets Dubomini carry out missions like passing through underwater gates, avoiding obstacles and identifying targets, largely on its own.

This achievement reflects BRAC University’s commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).