During her internship at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Ivy Mahncke, an undergraduate in robotics engineering from Olin College of Engineering, focused on creating algorithms to facilitate navigation for both human divers and robotic vehicles beneath the waves.
Mahncke’s journey into the world of underwater robotics began in 2024 at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Her passion for tackling complex challenges led her to join Lincoln Laboratory’s Advanced Undersea Systems and Technology Group in 2025, where she embarked on a summer project aimed at overcoming the limitations of traditional navigation methods.
In underwater settings, the absence of conventional localization tools like the Global Positioning System (GPS) presents significant hurdles. Mahncke dedicated her summer to developing and refining an algorithm designed to assist in navigating these challenging environments. This work culminated in practical field tests aboard an operational underwater vehicle.
Field testing took Mahncke to various sites, including the Atlantic Ocean, Charles River, and Lake Superior, where she witnessed her software functioning in real-world conditions. Reflecting on her experience, she noted, “One of the lead engineers on the project had split off to go do other work. And she said, ‘Here’s my laptop. Here are the things that you need to do. I trust you to go do them.’ And so I got to be out on the water as not just an extra pair of hands, but as one of the lead field testers.”
Mahncke’s contributions were recognized by her internship supervisor, Madeline Miller, who stated, “Ivy’s internship coincided with a rigorous series of field tests at the end of an ambitious program. We figuratively threw her right in the water, and she not only floated, but played an integral part in our program’s ability to hit several reach goals.”
The summer research program at Lincoln Laboratory runs from mid-May to August, and applications are currently open for interested candidates.
This article was produced by NeonPulse.today using human and AI-assisted editorial processes, based on publicly available information. Content may be edited for clarity and style.
