HUTCHINSON, Kan.: Students from Ad Astra STEAM Academy are taking their learning beneath the surface—literally. Through our unique partnership with the Kansas Cosmosphere, students recently participated in hands-on training at the Hutchinson YMCA where they learned to pilot underwater drones in a real-world aquatic environment.
The experience brought curriculum concepts to life as students navigated Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), a type of underwater drone designed to explore and perform tasks in environments that are often too deep, dark, or dangerous for human divers. Guided by Cosmosphere educators, students practiced maneuvering the drones, interpreting camera feedback, and completing simulated underwater challenges.
Underwater drones, which include both ROVs and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), play a critical role across a wide range of industries. They are commonly used for inspecting infrastructure such as bridges, dams, pipelines, and underwater cables, helping engineers identify damage or corrosion without putting human lives at risk. In commercial and industrial settings, they can be used to support aquaculture operations, inspect ship hulls, and even assist with monitoring systems in nuclear facilities.
Beyond industry, these technologies are essential tools for scientific discovery and public safety. Researchers rely on underwater drones to map the ocean floor, study marine ecosystems, and monitor water quality. In high-stakes situations, search and rescue teams may deploy them to locate submerged vehicles or missing persons in conditions too hazardous for divers. They are also used in defense operations for tasks such as port security and mine detection, as well as in deep-sea exploration and underwater archaeology, uncovering shipwrecks and previously unknown environments.
For Ad Astra STEAM Academy students, the training offered more than just a novel experience—it opened doors to future career pathways. Fields such as marine biology, environmental science, robotics engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, defense technology, and industrial inspection all rely on the skills students began developing in the pool.
“This is exactly the kind of real-world, hands-on learning we want for our students,” said Erica Shook, Ad Astra Academies Director. “They’re not just learning about technology—they’re using it, problem-solving with it, critically thinking with it, and beginning to see themselves in careers they may not have previously considered or even knew existed.”
The partnership between Ad Astra Academies and the Cosmosphere reflects a shared commitment to immersive, career-connected education. By engaging students in cutting-edge technologies like underwater robotics, which the Cosmosphere and its education staff can provide students, the program continues to prepare learners for a rapidly evolving workforce. A workforce that increasingly depends on innovation, adaptability, and technical skill.
As students surfaced from their training session, one thing was clear: the future of exploration, whether in space, on land, or beneath the water, may very well include the next generation of innovators from Ad Astra Academies.