ROV

Introduction:

ROV stands for Remotely Operated Vehicle.  These robots are used to explore our Oceans and see parts of them that we would never be able to see without these robots.  An ROV can be used to fix things in places humans cannot, such as off shore oil wells or complete scientific studies of the mid-ocean ridge in the Atlantic.  They also help us understand the extreme conditions that exist under the sea – the one place on Earth we have yet to fully explore

Some ROV tasks include:

• Observation
• Survey
• Inspection
• Construction
• Repair
• Burial and trenching

Competition Info

The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center coordinates the international student underwater robotics (remotely operated vehicle or ROV) competition and a network of 20 regional ROV contests.  This competition takes place across U.S. and in Canada, Hong Kong, Scotland, and Japan. Student teams from upper elementary, middle schools, high schools, home schools, community colleges, universities, and community organizations (such as the Boys and Girls Club and 4-H) participate.  The competitions consists of three different “classes” that vary depending on the sophistication of the ROVs and the mission requirements.

The “Scout” division covers elementary school students.  The goal of this division is to inspire students in elementary school and make them interested in robotics.  Their competitions, as well as the Ranger and Explorer divisions are all held at the same event.

The “Ranger” division is comprised of Middle to High school students, and are given much harder tasks than the Scouts.  Also, they are not allowed to look directly into the pool.  This forces the Rangers to use cameras, much like professional ROV’s exploring the deep ocean, where cameras are the only way to know what’s going on down there.

The “Explorer” division is for College students.  They are held to even higher standards than the Rangers, and are expected to complete harder, more realistic versions of the missions.  For example, a simulated cave for the Ranger division was a straight box shape, while the cave for the Explorer class had multiple bends in it.

2011 Mission

Excerpt courtesy of the official MATE ROV competition site -  http://www.materover.org

This year’s competition theme highlights the role that ROVs play in the offshore oil and gas industry and focuses on the challenges that they faced during the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.  The mission tasks include removing a damaged riser pipe, capping a wellhead, collecting a water sample, measuring depth, and sampling organisms.

Team Info

Previous Years

2010 MATE Internationals at UH Hilo

Awards

• 1st Place BIRR (Big Island Regional ROV)
• Engineering Award
• Biggest Bang for the Buck
  • Spent the least amount of money on a vehicle that performed well. (Ranger Class)
• MVP Award
  • Erica Sampaga

Team History

Hilo Viking Robotics first participated in ROV in the year 2006. Hilo High School hosted a few of the Big Island regionals with multiple teams competing. However, in the year 2009, the club stopped doing ROV. Another club, HHS ROV Club was started, taking a few HVR members as well.

In 2010, the HHS ROV Club turned in to HHS+1. It composed of three Hilo High students and a home schooled student. They placed 1st overall at the BIRR (Big Island Regional ROV) Competition in 2010 and also recieved the Engineering Award.  This qualified them for the International ROV Competition that happened in Hilo, Hawaii that same year.  The team placed 5th overall in the Ranger class and received the Biggest Bang for your Buck award.  This award was given to the team who spent the least amount of money on an effective robot.  One of the Hilo High students also won the MVP award which was given to only three participants in the Ranger Division.

For the 2010-2011 School Year, HHS+1 merged with Hilo Viking Robotics. As a main source of fundraising, they hosted a ROV Edition of Camp Eureka, where they taught elementary students how to create their own ROV.

R.O.V. 2011 Resources

2011 MATE ROV Competition Manual (PDF)

COSEE’s “Oil Spill in the Gulf” Educational Resources

Mission Prop Photos (PDF)

Mission Tasks (PDF)

MATE Regional ROV Competitions 2011

MATE Big Island Regional ROV Contest

R.O.V. Resources

Rover ROV Education and Resources

Team Info [materover.org]

Specs & Missions [materover.org]

R.O.V. Cameras

2mcctv.com

To find out more about ROV click here.