The depths of the seas are a world unseen by many humans.

With advancing technology, humans now have the opportunity to explore at depths never before imaginable. Through the construction of remotely operates vehicles (ROVs) underwater research can now be pushed to new limits. ROVs are constructed in many shapes and sizes depending on the needs of the task at hand. ROVs are often used to replace humans in research underwater when deploying divers to profound depths is not ideal. Data and information gathered aids in providing developments in the fields such as biology and petroleum.

Figure 1: Little Hercules ROV

Figure 2: Oil Platform

Figure 3: ROV Kit

Figure 4: Diver and Bluefin Tuna

Figure 5: Marine Life and Sea Turtle

Companies and organizations often recruit engineers to design and develop ROVs. Each company may request that the design include particular capabilities. Those capabilities are often related to what the company wants from the mission that the ROV is designed for. Organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) and British Petroleum (BP) often employ engineers to design and produce ROVs for undersea research. During and after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, BP deployed ROVs that tracked and monitored the spill. The ROVs allowed the company to see what was occurring without sending a diver into such a dangerous situation. Just as divers reach their limits underwater, ROV design do as well. Organizations must make certain that engineers employed create designs that function in extreme conditions while not harming the environment.

Figure 6: BP Logo

Figure 7: NOAA Logo Figure 9: Oceaneering Millennium

Figure 8: BP ROV Arm

The cold, dark waters previously unexplored holds numerous keys to questions unanswered about the world we live in. In addition to the water itself, thousands of organisms and other life inhabit the 70 percent of water on Earth 96.5 of which is contained in oceans. Utilizing ROVs to conduct research will provide new information on the diverse underwater ecosystems. Gathered research can help shed light on the effects humans have on marine ecosystems. The information gathered will aid the development of preservation methods for both sea life as well as maintaining an improving human life.

Figure 10: Distribution of Water on Earth

Figure 13: Human Impact on Marine Ecosystems

Figure 11: ROV conducting research

Figure 24: The Five Gyres

The undersea world ROVs operate in is a world that allows explorations, adventure, and inquiry. Thus, these characteristics must be displayed in the final design solution of the electrical system. The final solution will include aspects that represent exploration, adventure, and inquiry in the form of controls. A control system that contains multiple buttons permits the mechanical engineer and propulsion engineer to be greater in command of their respective system. The more control they have over their system, allows for more detailed research and analysis.

Figure 15: Mechanical Arm

Figure 16: ROV Motor

Figure 17: Playstation 2 Controller

Figure 18: Arduino Uno

The final design solution is a collaboration completed by an electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and naval architect. Each person is responsible for ensuring his or her individual design functions properly and well with the overall design. Specifically, the electrical system must meet certain standards. The electrical system must include a control system. The design of the control system must provide communication from the mechanical arm to the surface and communication between propulsion and the surface. The system must be waterresistant to ensure functionality and avoid mechanical errors. All parts of the design must be properly secured in housing units to prevent water from permeating. This means precautions must be taken to ensure all wiring is water-resistant and done correctly.

Figure 19: Water-resistant PVC Housing

Figure 20: Water-resistant Sealers

Figure 21: Waterproofed Motors

To test the design all three team members will create a simulated environment similar to a deep-sea environment. At the Neptune High School Aquatic Facility in Neptune, New Jersey, the ROVs functions are tested by a number of tasks underwater. The tasks that must be completed include the transfer of plastic rings from one underwater apparatus to another. The simulation replicates the underwater environment and research the ROV would complete in real life.

Works Cited Anderson, John. (n.d.) Diver and Bluefin Tuna. Retrieved from http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/wallpaper/photography/photos/giant-seacreatures/diver-and-bluefin-tuna-anderson/ Arduino Uno [Photograph]. Retrieved 15 September 2013 from http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardUno BP logo [Photograph]. Retrieved 14 September 2013 from http://www.logodesignlove.com/images/classic/bp-logo.jpg BP ROV Arm [Photograph]. Retrieved 14 September 2013 from http://media.nola.com/2010_gulf_oil_spill/photo/gulf-oil-bp-video-robot-armsjpg85c72da5f491abc4_large.jpg Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (n.d.). Oil Platform [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.boem.gov/uploadedImages/Platform10_278.jpg Distribution of Water on Earth [Graph]. Retrieved 15 September 2013 from http://archive.ck12.org/ck12/images?id=310217 Focus group. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved September 5, 2013, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/focus group The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, & National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [Photograph of marine life and sea turtle]. Retrieved from http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/explore/images/DP_001957.jpg Human Impact on marine ecosystems [Chart]. Retrieved 15 September 2013 from http://ebm.nceas.ucsb.edu/GlobalMarine/models/model/jpg/model_high_res.jpg

Mechanical Arm [Photograph]. Retrieved 15 September 2013 from http://www.helix-tech.com/wp-content/plugins/rssposter/cache/dc0de_schilling_5_may11.jpg National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (n.d.). ROV in Kelp Forest [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/history/quotes/abyss/media/kelpforest_600.jpg National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2010). Little Hercules ROV [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/background/info/info.html Neptune Aquatic Center [Photograph]. Retrieved 15 September 2013 from http://legacy.neptunetownship.org/places/neptunes-aquatic-center Nigel Bevan, Donn DeBoard, Cathy Herzon, Chauncey Wilson. (2010). Contextual Inquiry. Retrieved September 5, 2013 from http://www.usabilitybok.org/contextual-inquiry NOAA logo [Photograph]. Retrieved 14 September 2013 from http://www.noaa.gov/ Oceaneering Millennium [Photograph]. Retrieved 14 September 2013 from http://oldmixon.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Oceaneering-Millennium.jpg Playstation 2 Controller [Photograph]. Retrieved 15 September 2013 from http://cdn.gidn.net/images/stock/controller_ps2_diagram.jpg ROV Kit [Photograph]. Retrieved 15 September 2013 from http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/09/9-3-07-rov_kit.jpg ROV Motor [Photograph]. Retrieved 15 September 2013 from http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5212/5489472176_8dd00b928b_b.jpg

ROV Research [Photograph]. Retrieved 15 September 2013 from http://ocean.si.edu/sites/default/files/photos/1-vent_1-full_0.jpg The Five Gyres [Chart]. Retrieved 15 September 2013 from http://pensivetoaster.com/wpcontent/uploads/2013/03/5gyres_full.jpg Underwater Tasks [Photograph]. Retrieved 15 September 2013 from http://www.dsatulsa.org/images/Sea_Perch_Team.jpg Waterproofed Motors [Photograph]. Retrieved 15 September 2013 from http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_agm6NwS3vt8/TEUVrzgPNI/AAAAAAAAAB0/3ASXjqZKJok/s320/CIMG2682.JPG Water-resistant PVC Housing [Photograph]. Retrieved 15 September 2013 from http://www.homebuiltrovs.com/howtosimplehousing1.html Water-resistant Sealers [Photograph]. Retrieved 15 September 2013 from http://www.societyofrobots.com/images/actuators_servo_waterproof_epoxy.JPG Zukerman, I., Albrecht, D.: Predictive Statistical Models for User Modeling. User Modeling and User-Adapted Interaction 11(1-2), 518 (2001)

Figure 22: Neptune Aquatic Center Figure 23: Underwater Tasks