The Challenge

The first challenge that our ROV will have to complete is In N Out and the maximum time allowed is three minutes. In this challenge the team needs to navigate the robot through a series of hoops. This task is useful in marine science because in real life, scientists need to know how to navigate through tight spaces like when exploring a sunken ship. In this challenge we will have to be aware of size, buoyancy, and the maneuverability of the ROV.



The next challenge is Fish ID. In this challenge our ROV will count and ID fish along a transect with a time limit that is to be determined. This type of data is useful because it can be used to determine population size and abundance. We will need to make sure that our underwater camera is working and able to see the fish on the bottom. Also, we need to make sure the tether is long enough so that the ROV can travel the entire distance.



The third challenge is Gone Fishin’ in which the goal will be to collect organisms that are on the bottom of the pool. Collection in benthic environments is extremely important because it is one of the only ways that we are able to study organisms that live in the deep ocean. Structurally, we will have to make sure that the ROV can hold multiple organisms without dropping them and return to the surface. There is no current time limit.



The final challenge that we will have to complete is Operation Fix It with the time limit being undetermined. In Fix It, we need to put a “cap” on top of an “oil well”. In real life, when there is a spill, submersibles are deployed to try and stop the spill by closing off the well. For this section of the course we must consider maneuverability and stability of the arm that will carry the cap.