
An Aberdeen-based company which makes cables for the oil and gas industry has stepped in to support a local school team build an ROV for the competition’s international finals being held this month at the NASA Space Centre in Houston, Texas.
Mintlaw Academy came out on top in the annual competition which sees pupils from across Scotland put underwater robots they have designed and built to the test.
Hydro Group, the subsea cable and connector specialists, provided the 2016 finalists with a Hydro Bond 57 way dry mate cable mount connector, which interfaces with the ROV to help achieve maximum power.
To help further educate and inspire the team, Hydro Group invited a party of S4 to S6 Mintlaw finalists to its facility at the Aberdeen Energy Park, to show them the range of work Hydro Group is involved in.
Craig Reid, Production Manager, Hydro Group (and a former Mintlaw Academy pupil), said: “Learning first-hand about Hydro Group’s capabilities, and seeing our products and services in action will hopefully have helped enthuse and further inform the pupils on how the technology can be used across a wealth of industries.”
Hydro Group designs and manufactures underwater cables and connectors for subsea, underwater, topside and onshore applications, primarily working within the oil and gas, renewable energy, defence and aerospace industries.
Ali Hynd, Principal Head of Technology for Mintlaw Academy, said: “We are so proud of the team for reaching this stage of the competition, and everyone is thrilled about going to NASA for the finals.