Three aerospace engineering students at Auburn University believe they have a solution to reduce the amount of plastic waste around the globe. Zack Wadzinski, Dakota Newsome, and Harrison Smith proposed an aquatic drone — the Remora — they claim is capable of collecting 40 gallons of trash and is 100 percent autonomous for charging, waste disposal and maneuvering waterways.

The idea ­— Remora Robotics — impressed seven industry professional judges enough to take first place and $1,000 in the first Halloween Pitch Competition Oct. 30.

“The judges felt they had the most innovative and impactful idea,” said Lou Bifano, director of entrepreneurship strategy at the College of Business. “The winning team presented an environmentally conscious idea. Entrepreneurship at Auburn is on the move, and it’s been on the move for the past several years. The rate and pace of what we’re able to provide to our students is accelerating.”