The parts have been delivered! The robot will begin construction on Tuesday, May 27th! I have an enthusiastic and motivated group of 8th graders who are determined to build a robot to send with me to Antarctica! This idea started as a friendly competition with Ms. Cameo Slaybough who teaches in Suffolk, Virginia. Ms. Slaybough will be joining Dr. Stacy Kim in Antarctica at about the same time I will be joining Dr. Peter Doran (their project can be reviewed at: http://www.polartrec.com/antarctic-undersea-rov-08).This season in Antarctica, both Dr. Doran and Dr. Kim are utilizing robots to assist with their research. We thought it would be great to have students from both our schools experience the challenges of building a robot! This will also provide a direct connection between the students in our classrooms and the research in Antarctica. Our students will not only build a robot, but will have to consider functionality of the robots in the frigid waters of Antarctica!
Students will also learn about advantages and limitations of different styles of robots. Dr. Kim's robot is called SCINI - Submersible Capable of Under Ice Navigation and Imaging. This robot is an ROV, or remotely operated vehicle. This vehicle will be controlled by people on the surface of the ice. Its goal, among other things, will be to record images of the invertebrate colonization taking place on structures in McMurdo Sound. One of the benefits of this robot is its size; it can fit through a small hole drilled through the ice.
Dr. Doran's robot is called ENDURANCE - Environmentally Non-Disturbing Under-ice Robotic ANtarctic Explorer. This robot is an AUV, or an autonomous underwater vehicle. This vehicle is not tethered to the surface; it is programmed to travel along certain paths. Its goal, among other things, will be to create 3-D maps of water conditions within Lake Bonney - one of the ice covered lakes in Taylor Valley. Endurance will not fit through a small hole; it is about 4 feet tall and about 3 feet wide!
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The ENDURANCE with Peter Doran and Bill Stone
Photo by: Yoo Kyung Lee
Our students will be creating underwater camera ROV's. Ms. Slaybough and I will transport the robots to Antarctica and launch them in McMurdo Sound. We will send images recorded by the student ROV's back to our schools and we will be posting the images in our journal entries.
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Josh, Nick, and Jeremy - a few members of the robot team!
Let the games begin! This will be fun!