Research/Brainstorming

Introduction
The University of Hawaii annually hosts the MATES ROV Competition in the month of June. Last year’s competition tasks include resurrecting “Hugo”, collecting a sample of crustacean, sampling a new vent site, and collecting a sample of bacteria. The ROV will be built to those tasks by three different engineers, the electrical (my job), hull, and mechanical extension technician. The electrical engineer needs to design and build the electrical system that allows an operator (in the shack) to propel an ROV in the X, Y, Z axis of a chlorinated pool, operate the mechanical extension, send and retrieve temperature and hydrophone data, and power optical equipment. The MATES ROV Competition gives me a chance to design through the design process while working with professionals and peers.

The MATE Logo

Atmosphere 

The Mates ROV Competition takes place in a chlorinated pool (outdoor or indoor) between 1.2 m to 4.0 meters in depth. The control station is located in a “shack” so that the controlling team member cannot see the ROV in the pool. The atmosphere is tense because each team wants to perform its best (it is a competition).

In the "shack".

Competitors at a previous competition.

Conditions

Chlorinated pools are clear with high visibility compared to the murky water of a river, lake, or ocean. The electrical engineer must be sure that the tether and connection joint (where the ROV and tether meet). Water is highly conductible to electricity; it is imperative to contain the energy for safety reasons as well as to maintain the energy for the controlling of the ROV.

A competitor holding his tether.

The standard competition area.

Research of the End User
The electrical engineer is ultimately responsible for controlling the ROV. He is located in a shack next to the pool so he cannot see the ROV in motion. The team member in the shack controls the ROV based on what he sees on the maximum of three monitors in front of him. Other team members watch the ROV poolside during the competition. They can change the mechanical extension of the ROV during the competition if the ROV travels to them. Competitors are going to be under high amounts of stress and pressure during the competition. Humidity in the air from the pool has the possibility to be a factor because the controls are electric.

A team celebrates after their success.