Auburn’s autonomous lawnmower team placed second in the Institute of Navigation (ION) robotic lawnmower competition this summer in Beavercreek, Ohio. The team earned a $10,000 prize for the dynamic event by navigating its robot, Moe, through a playing field while cutting grass and avoiding obstacles. Areas of the field were assigned different points, with sections of grass closest to the static obstacles assigned the most points for degree of difficulty. Penalties were assigned for robots running outside of the assigned area, colliding with static and dynamic obstacles or needing a restart. Auburn’s team includes Michael Carroll, electrical engineering graduate student, William Woodall, software engineering graduate student, John Harrison, software engineering graduate student and Calvin Cutshaw, electrical and computer engineering technician, and is advised by Mark Nelms, chair of electrical and computer engineering.