building, and controlling an underwater robot. The robot must be fully controlled by a remote control operated by one of the team members. The robots goal is to pick up rings underwater,
and move them from one rack to another, seamlessly and elegantly. Also, the robot
must be maneuverable enough to make it through a treacherous obstacle course.
The robot will be designed, constructed, and tested with my partner, Ms. Dronne. The testing will be done at The Neptune Aquatic Center, in Neptune, NJ. The Neptune Aquatic Center features a 335,000 gallon pool that at its deepest point is 12 feet deep, and at its shallowest point is 4 feet deep (See images "Neptune Pool 1-4").
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| Neptune Pool 1 |
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| Neptune Pool 2 |
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| Neptune Pool 3 |
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| Neptune Pool 4 |
A primary use of ROVs is helping cap oil spills in the ocean (See "Oil Spill", "Oily Beach", "Oil in Water", and "Oil on Sand"). Oil spills are incredibly dangerous to an ecosystem. With a quick enough flow from an oil spill, immense damage can be done to the water and all of its inhabitants. ROVs are an efficient and safe means of capping the spills.
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| Oil Spill |
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| Oily Beach |
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| Oil in Water |
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| Oil on Sand |
ROVs are important because they can quickly access these vital spots to stop the spills without needing to endanger anybody by sending them down to the site. Oil spills can quickly damage an ecosystem and injure wildlife if not treated correctly (See "Oily Pelican", "Oily Bird", "Oily Otter", and "Oily Duck").
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| Oily Pelican |
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| Oily Bird |
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| Oily Otter |
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| Oily Duck |
The primary clientele for the ROVs would be the big oil companies that may need them at any place at any time (See "Oil Rig Workers"). Using ROVs, companies can quickly and effectively stop the oil from continuing to spill into the ocean.
Animals and oil companies alike both gain big benefits from the use of ROVs. The companies can solve the oil spills faster and thus prevent the animals from being injured, or possibly even killed.
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| Oil Rig Workers |
ROVs are a versatile and useful piece of technology (See "Sample ROV 1").
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| Sample ROV 1 |
In addition to helping with physical tasks, such as capping oil spills, ROVs are very useful with other endeavors. As shown in "Sample ROV 1", ROVs can also be used as cameras for data collection and deep sea investigation (See "ROV Inspecting Wreck"). ROVs are commonly used to gather pictures and sometimes even objects from areas too deep to examine by hand.
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| ROV Inspecting Wreck |
The SeaPerch Challenge has been going on for many years, and throughout the years, people have found various solutions to the challenges (See "Sample SeaPerch ROV 1" and "Sample SeaPerch ROV 2"). The ROVs shown take very different approaches to accomplishing the SeaPerch Challenge. As long as the ROV fits the specifications and limits put in place by SeaPerch, the ROV can be designed any way the creator deems most effective and efficient. Sample ROVs are shown below.
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| Sample SeaPerch ROV 1 |
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| Sample SeaPerch Rov 2 |
(Note: The SeaPerch Challenge may have changed over the years and the ROVs shown may not represent the same challenge that my partner and I will be completing.)
Summary:
The problem at hand is accomplishing completion of the SeaPerch Challenge. The challenge consists of two main parts: the obstacle course and the ring test. The obstacle course is designed to test the ROVs maneuverability and ease of control. The ring test will be set up to test the ROVs dexterity and ability to move the rings from one location to another desired location as quickly as possible.
ROVs have practical real life application as well. One way they can be used is for capping an oil spill. Sending a robot down to cap the spill is much safer than sending a person down to risk their life in the process. Another practical application is using camera equipped ROVs for data research of shipwrecks and other deep sea endeavors.
The primary stakeholders are either those who buy the product (the oil companies or the deep sea researchers) or anybody affected by its use (in the case of oil, the animals). ROVs being used to cap oil spills drastically reduce the numbers of any animals being injured by quickly and effectively capping the spill.
The ROV specifically being designed by Ms. Dronne and I will need to be able to move as efficiently as possible and be able to transport the rings from location to location. The vehicle will need to be small enough to be maneuverable but also large enough to sustain the weight of the arm Ms. Dronne will be creating and the rings that the arm will be holding. The final product will need to be small and maneuverable, but also be strong enough to support the pressure the arm will put on the hull.
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