Underwater Rovers

There are a multitude of Engineering Design Process posters and acronyms available online.  This is a sample version that has worked well with my students during the underwater rover project:

1. ASK - What is the problem?  What are possible solutions?  What have others done?
2. IMAGINE - What are the possibilities?  What else can be done?  What is the best solution?
3. PLAN - Is the plan possible?  Where should I start?  What materials are needed?
4. CREATE - Can a model be made?  Have I followed the plans?  Does it meet the goal?
5. IMPROVE - Does it work?  What will make it better?  What can be done differently?
6. COMMUNICATE - Are changes needed?  What do others think?  Is the problem solved?

Teams are encouraged to keep a Design Notebook.  In real life, engineers keep notebooks to document their ideas and steps taken to arrive at a solution as well as to provide proof for inventions they create.  For the underwater rover project, the purpose of the notebook is to record notes, document important information, and to track the team's overall progress.  These notebooks can be simple or complex depending on the needs of the students.  The notebooks can be comprised of notebook paper, a simple notebook, or a computerized document.  

I demonstrate how to use the equipment and then allow a student to demonstrate to ensure that the students understand how to safely use the tools for their intended purpose.  

As a review, I use Kahoot to play a review game with the students.  Kahoot is highly engaging for all learners and brings out a helpful competitiveness between the students.  This informal assessment lets me know if my students are ready to move forward with using the tools safely.  

We have had a lot of success using the SeaPerch Rover Kits They are relatively inexpensive and come prepackaged in kits for each team.  There are many other rover kits available on the Internet and you are encouraged to investigate to see which rover kits best meet the needs of your students.  Schools also have the option of using materials that they have on hand combined with purchasing select components (i.e. motors, batteries, etc.) separately.  

Research shows that hands-on experiences increase student performance and motivation.   A meta-analysis of 15 years of research on the advantages of hands-on learning in over 1,000 classrooms, demonstrated that students in activity-based programs performed up to 20% higher than groups using traditional or textbook approaches. The greatest gains occurred in creativity, attitude, perception, and logic (Bredderman, 1982).  

There are many options for Underwater Rover Olympics.  If there are other schools in your community who are also building underwater rovers, consider inviting them to your event!  If possible, invite parents and administrators to your culminating event.  Students love sharing their learning with others and parents, especially at the middle school level, desire to be involved!  This chart shows three examples of events that you might consider using in your Olympic competition.  

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Obstacle Course - A series of underwater rings are placed in the pool for the rovers to navigate. These can be easily made from PVC pipe.   

• Directions -The rover must travel through each of the 3 rings, surface and return through the 3 rings. Fastest time wins. 

Rules 

1. The rings must be traversed in order, closest to the wall first. 
2. The rovers must move under their own power. It is prohibited for a team member to pull or attempt to maneuver the rover using the tether.  
3. Time is stopped when the rover returns and touches the wall. It is not necessary for the rover to be on the surface at the finish.  

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Finesse Test - Diving rings, or similar objects, are placed at the bottom of the pool for the rovers to retrieve.   

• Directions - Sunken objects must be retrieved and placed into designated bins. Points will be awarded based on the rubric. 

  Rules 

1. Find the objects and return each to the designated bin.
2. Time is stopped when the rover returns the last object to the bin.

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Search & Rescue - Small floating boats, army men, or similar objects, are placed on the surface of the pool for the rovers to rescue.   

• Directions - Boats must be rescued and brought to the pool deck using the rover.

 Rules 

1. Boats are “rescued” when they have been returned to the pool deck.   
2. Time is stopped when the rover returns the last boat to the pool deck. 

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It is wise to have one student in the water during the Olympics.  We have typically asked a high school student who is on the swim team to assist.  If rovers become stuck or pieces fall to the bottom of the pool, the swimmer can easily return them to the students.  

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Setting up a Rehabilitation Station for use during the Olympics is important.  This station should contain spare parts and tools for students to use in the event that something breaks during the project.  Consider including items such as:

• soldering iron & solder
• epoxy
• propeller shafts
• extra batteries
• safety goggles
• general tools such as screwdrivers, vise grips, pliers, etc.

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