SeaPerch Project
Brittani Edwards
July 29, 2011
SeaPerch Program
 SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program that trains teachers
to teach their students how to build an underwater Remotely Operated
Vehicle (ROV) in an in-school or out-of-school setting.
 It uses low-cost items and a curriculum that introduces basic engineering
and science concepts with a marine engineering theme.
 “Building a SeaPerch ROV teaches basic skills in ship and submarine
design and encourages students to explore naval architecture and marine
and ocean engineering concepts. “
 “It also teaches basic science and engineering concepts and tool safety and
technical procedures. Students learn important engineering and design
skills and are exposed to all the exciting careers that are possible in naval
architecture and naval, ocean, and marine engineering. “
SeaPerch ROV
Office of Naval Research
 The U.S. Needs Trained Engineers
 The U.S. has fallen from 3rd to 17th in the world in the
number of college graduates in engineering programs. In
the U.S., only 5% of science degrees are awarded in
engineering, as compared with 50% in China.
 It is estimated that 400,000 engineers will be needed by
2010. If it is not addressed, the expected shortage of skilled
workers could decrease the nation's global competitiveness
and result in a lack of expertise in mission-critical areas.
Underwater Rov’s
Panther-XT Plus
Cougar-XTi
Jaguar
Lynx
Falcon
PantherXT
Cougar-XT
Tiger
SeaPerch Challenge
 After the SeaPerch robot is constructed, students are encouraged to test
their vehicles, deploy them on missions, compete in a culminating
event, the SeaPerch Challenge A district-wide one-day design
competition, to take what students have learned to the next level. The
Challenge fosters an end goal, rewards sportsmanship, spirit and
presentation skills, as well as mastery of the concepts. Events at the
Challenge can include:
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Vehicle Performance - maneuvering & recovery
Innovative Design (optional)
Team Presentations - oral presentations to judges
Design
Notebooks - document planning, design, construction, testing, and
learning
 Team spirit & sportsmanship at the event
SeaPerch Introduces Students to
Engineering & Science
 The U.S. Government is attempting to address the problem
through programs such as the National Naval Responsibility for
Naval Engineering outreach effort, which supports the SeaPerch
program. The goal of this effort is to find the next generation of
naval architects, marine engineers, naval engineers, and ocean
engineers. SeaPerch addresses the recruitment vulnerability in
these priority fields.
To Date….
 To date, SeaPerch has provided over 26,000 students with the
opportunity to learn about underwater robotics. Over 2,000 teachers
have been trained and will be taking SeaPerch into their classrooms in
upcoming semesters, and thousands of SeaPerch kits have been
shipped to schools and educators across the country and built.
ERAU-SeaPerch Connection
 Kasey Cundelerio
 Brittani Edwards
 Zachery Myers
 Amber Morgan
 Nitou Makidi
 Dr. Bogdan Udrea
 Paul Prochnicki
 Dr. Charles Reinholtz
 Abdiel A. Santos
SeaPerch Goals
 Develop a challenge—March 17, 2012
 Get 3-4 school across central Florida to participate
 Develop a challenge related to real-world issues
Modules
 1. Let’s Dive Down!
 2. What’s Underwater?
Let’s Dive Down
Objectives:
 Explain what PVC stands for, give three examples of things
that PVC is used for, and list some of the pros and cons of
PVC materials
 Measure a length of PVC pipe and be able to cut PVC Pipe
 Students will learn why remotely operated vehicles are used.
 Students will learn the parts of a ROV and how they work.
Objective continued…
 Students will experience what it is like to operate a ROV
and who uses ROV’s.
 Solder a simple connection and to use the vocabulary of
soldering
 Give three examples of electrical energy
 Determine the mass of an object, determine the volume
of an irregularly shaped object and calculate the density
of an irregularly shaped object.
Let’s Dive Down
 Activities:
 Lesson plan 1 (what is PVC and how to cut PVC)
 Lesson plan 2 (Connecting PVC)
 Worksheet for Lesson 1 and 2 (Answer key)
 PowerPoint (What are ROV’s)
 Lab sheet (Teacher instructions)
 Lesson plan 3 (soldering)
 Lesson plan 4 (electricity)
 PowerPoint for Lesson 5 (introduction to buoyancy)
 ROV Webquest
 Extension activity: Modification of Sea Perch
What’s Underwater?
 Objectives:
 To be able to discuss the challenges of deep-sea exploration
 To be able to work in groups to research deep submergence vehicles
 To create a "deep-sea exploration" mural showing a variety of
submersibles at different depths and their uses.
 Build and understand the movable functions of an underwater ROV
 Build and understand the functions of an underwater audio
listening device
Objectives Continued…
 Comprehend the physical properties of pressure and Boyle’s
Law as demonstrated by the designing of a depth gauge
 Construct a capillary depth gauge
 Calculate the calibrated depth marks of the capillary tube
 Determine the margin of error of the depth gauge
 Create an diorama of an individual ocean zone and identify
what plants and animals are found in it
What’s Underwater?
 Activities:
 Lesson plan 1- Research ROV’s
 Lesson plan 2- Build a SeaPerch
 Lesson plan 3- Build a hydrophone
 Hydrophone instruction sheet
 Lesson plan 4- Measuring Depth
 PowerPoint- Ocean zones
 Lesson Plan 5- Reading and Science Connection “The
Hunt for Red October” (Suggested by Sea Perch)
 Extension activity: Ocean Jeopardy
Resources
 http://www.seaperch.org
 http://www.nauticus.org/exhibits/treasures-noaas-
ark-online-activities
 http://www.silversidesmuseum.org/UnderwaterTechnology__Remote-Operated-UnderwaterVehicles-Build-an-ROV-Scout-School-GroupsMichigan.htm
Questions?
Thank you!!
 Dr. Christopher Grant
 Dr. Bogdan Udrea
 RET Program Teachers
 Amber Morgan
 Office Of Naval Research
 Susan Nelson
 Dr. Charles Reinholtz