THE ROV CHALLENGE

What is an ROV?

 ROV = Remotely Operated Vehicle  Unoccupied, remote controlled submersible vehicle  Used in deep and shallow underwater applications

What parts does an ROV have?

        Body/Chassis Umbilical  Carries power, control signals, video feeds, and data.

Arms/manipulators Navigation Equipment Sonar Cameras Lights Sample Collection systems Umbilical ROV Control box Battery

Our Arctic is Opening Up

 The Arctic is facing major challenges as the ice melts  More shipping and oil and gas exploration are happening  An oil spill in the arctic would be a huge disaster  Many plants and animals would be harmed http://www.protect the-arctic.com/

What is it like in the Arctic?

 Remote  Dark  Extreme weather  Shallow water  Ice covered water  Ice can be unpredictable http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2010/  Freezing conditions http://www.polarfield.com/blog http://www.arcticscience.org/whyStudy.php

Oil Exploration

During a recent exploratory oil drilling mission the Black Gold Oil Company (BGOC) successfully located an offshore, ice-covered oil reserve and started extracting.

Then… A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck and part of the pumping equipment separated under the ice.

BGOC has contracted your company to build an ROV

1) Perform a scouting mission to search for pools of oil trapped under the ice 2) Take a sample from a pool of oil under the ice 3) Return the sample to an analyzing station 4) Transport a piece of surface equipment 5) Respond to the open water spill in the polynya and remove oil from the surface

Materials

 Structure- A variety of PVC joints and lengths of pipe (3, 4, 6, & 12 inch).

 Zip Ties and Electrical Tape for attaching motors, floats, and ballast.

 Motor Unit- Includes a control box, umbilical cable, and 3 bilge pump motors.

 Shears for cutting floats, zip ties, and tape.  DO NOT cut your PVC Pipe!

Materials

The Challenges

 Task 1 – Perform scouting mission to search for pools of oil trapped under the ice.

 Drive ROV back and forth 20 feet out and back.

 Task 2 – Take a sample from a pool of oil in the ice.

 Surface ROV inside a large floating ring and hold position for 5 seconds.

 Task 3 – Return sample and have it analyzed.

  Position ROV in front of an underwater square Hold position for 5 seconds

The Challenges

   Task 4 – Transport floating equipment   Engage a beach ball floating in the pool Return the beach ball to the side of the pool Task 5 – Respond to a surface oil patch in a polynya  Use ROV to gather floating ping pong balls and return to poolside Task 6 – Deliver equipment to an underwater work station   Fly ROV back and forth through a large stationary underwater ring Pick up a small underwater ring.

 Deposit the small ring on a piece of anchored PVC pipe.

Challenge Diagram

Operation

 You will be by the pool – you are not to go in the

pool!

 Keep batteries away from water  Do not drop control box in water  The ROV Operator holds the control box while the Tether Manager controls the tether.

  The Operator will pass the control box to the Tether Manager when his/her turn is up. The next person in line becomes the Tether Manager.

Teamwork Points

 All team members participate in design, build, and break down ROV.

 All team members drive ROV during challenge.

 Team members give each other positive encouragement.

 Team members observe and obey all safety rules .

Possible Demerits

 Team member bickers, argues, or acts with disrespect.

 Pool-side structural modification after challenges have begun.

 Team pulls tether to move ROV.

 Use of pool “seal” after challenges have begun.

Structure

 Think of what the ROV must do to accomplish the tasks  Bigger ≠ Better  Distribute weight evenly http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2 179/1519760291_a9bcb213a6.jp

g?v=0

Purpose

 What are the specific tasks of the challenge?  Where in the water column does your ROV need to operate (at the surface or down in the water?

 What shapes/attachments/tools does your ROV need to accomplish the tasks?

Collect and retrieve objects floating at the surface.

‘Fly’ through large rings suspended underwater.

Collect a small ring and deposit it on an arm.

Motor Placement

      Attach motors with zip ties The propellers should not be able to hit a wall or floor Motors must be underwater when the ROV is at the surface Up/down motor is best placed as close to the center of the ROV as possible Side motors can be placed at front, middle or back of ROV Test motors so you know which way they spin before attaching them to the frame

 Up/down motor is best placed as close to the center of the ROV as possible.

 Side motors can be placed at front, middle or back of ROV.

 Test motors so you know which way they spin before attaching them to the frame.

Buoyancy

 Attach floatation with zip ties  The top of the ROV should float level just at the surface  Think of where your weight is  You want floatation over the weight  Balance floatation so ROV doesn’t tilt side to side or point up/down  You can attach ballast (additional weight) if needed

Let’s Build an ROV!

Control Box Float Motors Float

RO V

Ballast

REMEMBER!



DO NOT…

   Share or modify parts of your kit.

Go in the pool.

Get batteries or control box wet.



DO…

   Show good sportsmanship.

Learn something.

Have fun!