Let's build a SeaMATE PufferFish ROV.
This is a general guide for building a SeaMATE PufferFish ROV. It includes a list of items that need to be purchased for building a PufferFish ROV in the classroom, as well as links to presentations and activities to facilitate teaching and building. Enjoy the build!
Here's what you need.
Instructor Resources
Many of the presentations have instructor-added audio files. Click the audio icon in the top left corner of each slide to hear a MATE instructor's audio presentation of the slide.
PufferFish General Build Guide
Materials Needed List
The following materials should be ordered for every PufferFish build.
- 1 PufferFish ROV Kit per group of students (usual group is 2-4 students).
- 1 PufferFish Grab Bag - spare parts kits for every 4-5 groups of students.
- 1 MATE Wire Soldering Lab Kit per student.
- 1 MATE PufferFish Practice Board Kit per student.
- 1 PVC Frame Kit per group of students, easily obtainable from your local hardware store and 30 cm of foam from big box stores/dollar stores.
- 1 Hydraulics Kit (7.6m) per group of students (if doing Simple Hydraulics).
- 1 Hydraulic tool (PVC)
- 1 Non-Moving manipulator (plastic hanger) per group of students.
*PufferFish ROV kits may be taken apart and re-used for future builds. Just the printed circuit board can be removed and replaced with a PufferFish Circuit Board Kit, or the entire control box can be replaced with a PufferFish Control Box Kit. See Reusing the PufferFish ROV Kit for instructions on taking apart and re-assembling a used PufferFish kit.
The following materials need to be ordered only once. They can be re-used for future ROV PufferFish builds.
- 1 Power Supply with GFCI plug-in for every 2 groups of students. Note: If you do not have a source of AC electricity (wall outlet) near your pool, alternative methods of powering the ROV may be needed.
- 1 ROV-in-a-Bag Assembled AngelFish Kit per group of students (for ROV-in-a-Bag Activity).
- 1 Set of PVC and Fittings from hardware store and 30 cm of foam from big box stores/dollar stores per group of students for the ROV-in-a-Bag activity.
- 1 Set of Tools to construct the PufferFish ROV kit per group of students. Some consumables may need to be purchased repeatedly.
- 1 Simple Circuits Lab Kit per group of students.
- 1 Frame Pool - used for practice and testing. Not needed if you have full time access to a larger pool. Note: Purchase in wintertime for large discount; price increased in springtime.
- 1 Set of simple missions. Pool Rings are a simple item to easily pick up from the bottom of the pool.
- Alternatively, the Spanish Galleon Competition Kit offers a more complex mission for ROVs to complete.
- Alternatively, you can use MATE ROV Competition Missions from past years.
- See the Missions Presentation for additional information.
I have my materials, now I'm ready to teach.
Introduction to Remotely Operated Vehicles |
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Underwater Robotics textbook reading:
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2 hours |
Quick ROV Building
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20 minutes |
The Mission
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Instructor Resources: |
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Metacognitive Card Game:
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Standards |
Tools and System: Frame |
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Underwater Robotics Textbook Reading:
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20 - 30 minutes |
Tools
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2 hours
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Computer Aided Design (optional)
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1 hour |
ROV Frame
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30 minutes |
Team Building
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Standards |
Basic Electronics |
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Underwater Robotics Textbook Reading:
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1 hour
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Electronics
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Instructor Resources:
Standards |
Systems: Power, Control, Tether & Propulsion Troubleshooting |
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Underwater Robotics Textbook Reading:
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1 hour |
Soldering
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20 minutes |
ROV Power System
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3 hours |
ROV Control System
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30 minutes
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ROV Tether System
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45 minutes |
ROV Propulsion System
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45 minutes |
Troubleshooting
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Standards |
System: Payload |
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Underwater Robotics Textbook Reading:
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2 hours |
Camera
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1 hour |
Hydraulics
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Standards |
System: Buoyancy / Ballast |
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Underwater Robotics Textbook Reading:
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1 hour |
Buoyancy and Ballast
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Instructor Resources:
Standards |
ROVs Outside the Classroom |
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1 Hour |
The MATE ROV Competition
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30 minutes |
Virtual Field Trips
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15 minutes |
The Ocean Workforce |
2 hours |
Exploring the Oceans
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Instructor Resources: Standards: |
Safety and Operations |
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Underwater Robotics Textbook Reading:
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20 minutes |
Safety
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1 – 3 hours |
Operations
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