Sea Perch 2015
Competition General Rules
For full details see the 2015 Competition Specification document.
Updated 01/08/15
1. On competition day teams will compete in 4 categories: two Pool Performance Challenges, one Oral Poster Presentation and Spirit &
Sportsmanship.
2. Trophies for first, second and third place for Engineering Design Notebook, Oral Poster Presentation, Vehicle Performance and Team Spirit
and Sportsmanship. Vehicle Performance awards are a combined score of both pool rounds,
First and second place pool performance winners receive an invitation to represent the Greater Philadelphia SeaPerch Region at the National
Competition.
3. Overall GPSPC Winners - Each team will receive a score for each of the four competition categories listed above. Scores from all categories
except Team Spirit & Sportsmanship will be combined to determine the overall GPSPC Champion. There will one overall Middle School
Champion and one High School Champion.
4. American Society of Naval Engineers-Delaware Valley, (ASNE-DV) - Simulated Navy Contract Cash Award- A $100.00 cash award
presented to the middle school and high school teams that are identified as the Overall GPSPC Winners. First and second place winners will
be invited to participate in the annual American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) symposium.
5. Atlantic Rangers Scuba Club, Against All Odds Award - An award presented to one middle school and one high school team that overcomes
the most significant obstacle(s) and still competes in the challenge.
6. Only two team members are allowed on the pool deck during a competition. One driver and a second person on deck will have control of
the tether. The second person can also deploy the ROV in the pool remove it and any other objects from the pool.
7. All team members must wear shoes with rubber soles on the pool deck.
8. Each team should bring their own charged battery to the pool. Make sure your battery is fully charged.
9. Each SeaPerch ROV must complete a safety and maneuverability compliance check during check-in, and approved prior to the team
competing in the pool events. (For information see the compliance section in the 2015 Competition Specification document)
10. In the event that a vehicle is inadvertently interfered with during a competition, or a malfunction of a vehicle's parts (i.e., the motor) occurs
that is beyond the design and construction, the lead pool judge will have the sole authority to provide the team time to fix their vehicle and to
allow them to compete later in the round. Malfunctions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Craft Design and Modification Rules
Teams are encouraged to think outside the box and change the shape and configuration of the SeaPerch ROV.
Vehicles shall consist of the parts and components contained within the equivalent of one SeaPerch kit, with the following exceptions:
 Teams have a budget of $20.00 to modify the SeaPerch. It is the actual value of the modifications that must be $20 or less. Donated
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material should be assessed at what the cost would be to procure the material. The $20 limit is for costs of the materials utilized on
the final competition vehicle. Recycled SeaPerch spare parts are not included in this budget.
No dimension shall be larger than 22" (minimum obstacle diameter)
Hooks and attachments may be added/removed depending on the competition round.
Additional motors may be utilized for actuation or other non-propulsion uses.
Teams may only utilize stock SeaPerch motors and thrusters (Jameco P/N 232022).
Teams may not add additional thrusters to the SeaPerch. A thruster is defined as a means of propulsion for the SeaPerch, normally
but not limited to a motor and propeller assembly.
Teams will design for and utilize a 12-volt power source. Over charging or stacking batteries is not allowed.
The vehicle may be worked upon by the teams during the competition at the triage station.
The vehicle cannot be dragged via the tether.
RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. CHANGES WILL BE POSTED ON THE PHILLYSEAPERCH.ORG WEB SITE
3D printing of SeaPerch parts to replace or modify minor parts is permissible under the following
guidelines:
 Shall provide technical advantage or innovation
 Rationale documented in design notebook and presentation
 Value of 3D part is based upon the value of part it replaces
 Value of 3D printed parts shall not exceed $10
 Included in $20 design improvement budget limit
New 3D printed parts (vs replacement or modified) are only permissible for object manipulation or recovery
 Part must be used to make physical contact with the mission object
Challenges and Disputes
Sportsmanship is expected at all times. Should a protest or dispute occur during the competition it is the intent to resolve the grievance at the
time it occurs, and the ruling by the Head Judge shall be final.
A team that wishes to have an issue considered shall send the student team captain and one additional student member (2) to the lead judge
with the inquiry or question. The lead judge will make the decision on the issue, and this decision is final. The same issue may not be brought
to the judge a second time by any member of the team. Adults may not approach the lead judge on the pool deck regarding any perceived
issues.
Teams may not question the legality of other competing vehicles; it is the Lead Compliance Judge's role to determine if vehicles meet the
entry and compliance requirements.
Unsportsmanlike conduct is grounds for the disqualification of a team. Team members and advisors are responsible for the conduct of all
members and adults accompanying the team.
Competition Events
Obstacle Course Round 1
1. An underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) must be able to maneuver successfully under its own power. If a vehicle cannot maneuver
to the appropriate location to perform its task, the vehicle is of no use.
2. Teams must navigate through a submerged obstacle course, disarm the mine, and continue to navigate through the rings to the end of the
course. The ROV must surface, then re-submerge and return through the course in reverse order to the end. Consideration of optimal
maneuverability, control, and speed should be given when constructing your Sea Perch (thruster placement and orientation, tether attachment,
buoyancy and ballast, etc.) and control box. The judge will verify your team made it through the last hoop & broke the surface of the water with
your craft. If your team is not able to make it through a hoop, you may skip it.
3. The submerged obstacle course involves five large rings (22" – 24” minimum diameter), Figure 1, oriented in various directions, and a mine
Figure 2 located half way down range that must be disabled. For every hoop your team makes it through you will receive points. A time penalty
will be enforced if the mine is skipped. The mine is not required to be disabled on the return.
4. Scores for this round will be based on the fastest time for successfully navigating the obstacle course and disabling the mine.
5. You will be given a total of no more than 8 minutes to complete the round.
6. The vehicle cannot be dragged through the obstacle course via the tether.
7. The judge’s stopwatch will begin when the whistle blows and stop when your team makes it back through the first hoop and surfaces on the
end where you started.
Mine Specifications forth coming.
RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. CHANGES WILL BE POSTED ON THE PHILLYSEAPERCH.ORG WEB SITE
Figure 1 – Obstacle Course
Release Mechanism
inside the PVC
Pipe
Figure 2 The Mine Diagram and Release Mechanism.
Top Secret Recovery Mission - Round 2
Specifics and schematics are forthcoming.
Basic Overview
For SeaPerch Operators:
You have been selected to lead this mission due to your skills in navigating and manipulating the SeaPerch ROV.
You are to equip your SeaPerch with an acoustic mission package (hydrophone) but you will not be allowed to use the video mission package
(underwater video camera). You may equip your SeaPerch with other probes or manipulators as you determine necessary. Your mission has
been broken down into the following tasks:
RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. CHANGES WILL BE POSTED ON THE PHILLYSEAPERCH.ORG WEB SITE
Task 1 Locate the Signal Emitting Objects. There will be (2) Signal Emitting Objects and 1-3 decoy objects.
Using an acoustic mission package (hydrophone), you must locate the Signal Emitting Objects. Samples are shown at the end of
this section.
Task 2
Release the Satellite Data Recorder and Activate the Self Destruct Mechanism
Task 3
Recover the Drone Flight Data Recorder
Task 4
Recover a Sample of the Drone Stealth Material
Bonus Task 5 Recover and Reassemble the Complete Enemy Drone
BELOW IS A FICTIONAL SCENARIO FOR THE SEAPERCH UNERWATER ROBOT OUTREACH COMPETITION
TOP SECRET MISSION BRIEFING
Mission Briefing:
A US satellite, containing highly classified information on its data recorder has crashed into the ocean in a hostile location.
An enemy spy drone observed surveilling the crash site was shot down by the navy. The drone remained virtually undetectable by navy
technology prior to visual contact and is considered to be made of a high tech stealth material. An advanced underwater Remote Operated
Vehicle (ROV), a SeaPerch is being dispatched to the scene. The Sea Perch mission is to recover the satellite data recorder, activate the
satellite self-destruct mechanism, recover the data recorder from the enemy drone, and recover a sample of the drone stealth material amid
the debris field for navy engineers and scientists to analyze.
For full details see the 2015 Competition Specification document.
RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. CHANGES WILL BE POSTED ON THE PHILLYSEAPERCH.ORG WEB SITE
Satellite Magnetic Release Key Placement
RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. CHANGES WILL BE POSTED ON THE PHILLYSEAPERCH.ORG WEB SITE
See the 2015 Competition Specifications for additional information.
Acoustic Mission Package Ideas
RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. CHANGES WILL BE POSTED ON THE PHILLYSEAPERCH.ORG WEB SITE
Poster and Presentation Judging
All teams must include the following in their presentation:
• Company Overview
– Company name, size, and demographics
– Mission/Vision statement with an emphasis on naval engineering
– Organization of the company explained
• Recruiting Methods
– How did the company recruit new members
• Budget information and implementation
– Identify additions and modifications to the Sea Perch
– Explain any trade-offs of the modifications
• Design and Manufacturing Process & Engineering Process
– Identify the steps taken to achieve the design
– Design research (naval engineering research)
– Identify technical calculations or testing conducted and design priorities
– Integrated lessons learned
– Charts/Drawings/Pictures
• Use of computer technology
 High School – must hand out a corporate brochure to the clients which must include
Each team member is required to answer questions from the judges?
Electronic media, physical models, additional posters, or other items can be used by a team to supplement their Poster Presentation. Any
additional equipment including computers with special software must be furnished by the team.
Professional printing of the poster is permitted but will not be calculated into the final score.
The poster size shall not exceed 36” x 48”.
A maximum of eight team members and one advisor will be allowed to staff the poster during the judging. All team members present must
participate in giving the presentation. The presentation may be videotaped by one of the eight representatives and must be done without
causing a disturbance.
Teams will have 10 minutes to present their poster and 5 minutes answer follow-up questions by the judges.
Teams are advised to arrive at their designated presentation area 10 minutes prior to their scheduled start time. Teams who are more then 5minutes late will not be allowed to present.
The 2015 Rubric is available for review in the 2015 Competition Specifications document.
Team Spirit and Sportsmanship
Teams are encouraged to show their team spirit during the competition. Judges will watch throughout the competition to determine the
teams with the highest levels of team spirit.
Each team shall sit together in the bleachers of the pool area. Teams are asked to have a team flag to identify their team to the judges.
Drums, plastic bottles containing beads, cow bells, and bull horns and all percussion instruments are strictly prohibited.
Flag specifications shall conform to:
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Maximum flag pole height is 7 feet
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Maximum flag dimensions are 3 feet by 3 feet
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The flag shall prominently display the school and team names
A maximum of 1 flag per school is allowed
The sportsmanship award will be determined through a voting process. Teams will be observed by competition judges. Teams displaying
sportsmanship will be nominated by the judges and the nominations will be placed in a voting box. The lead Spirit & Sportsmanship judge
will make the final decision on the winner by calculating the combined Spirit & Sportsmanship scores.
RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. CHANGES WILL BE POSTED ON THE PHILLYSEAPERCH.ORG WEB SITE
Engineering Design Notebook Overview
The Engineering Design Notebook shall be electronically submitted in an approved file and within file size limitations specified in advance of
the competition. The deadline for Notebook submittals is 5:00 pm on April 03, 2015. Notebooks will not be accepted after the
deadline.
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Maximum file size – 3MB
Formatted as an Adobe PDF
Sections II, III, IV and V should be no more than 20 pages combined.
Must contain receipts for design costs
The Engineering Design Notebook must document how teams implemented the engineering process. The Design Notebooks shall include the
following sections:
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Front Matter
Naval Engineering Research
Design, Engineering, and Manufacturing Process
Naval Scenario for SeaPerch
Teamwork
Bill of Material
Supporting Documentation
Refer to page 7 in the 2015 Competition Specification document for a complete rubric for the Design Notebook Guide.
RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. CHANGES WILL BE POSTED ON THE PHILLYSEAPERCH.ORG WEB SITE
REV. December 12, 2014