Name __________________________

Name __________________________

Name __________________________
Name __________________________

Underwater Exploration
1. Make a timeline of undersea devices. These devices could be manned or unmanned. They
could be search items or weapons. They might be dwellings or suit like devices. They
could be robots either remotely operated (ROV) or autonomous (AUV). (Hint: look for
things in the mid 1200s through the Jason Project today) This timeline should be on B
size paper. That is 11 x 17. It should be neat, include a title, the names of the people in
the group and if possible pictures of the device. I am not looking for scuba gear; I am
looking for things that can assist you in traveling through water. Like diving bell, first
experimental submarine in the early 1600s, one manned hand-powered submarine in
about 1776, first practical hand powered submarine in the early 1800s, first diving suit
and helmet, during the American Civil War, what did the Confederate army make, first
steam powered submarine, Captain Jacques Cousteau designed what kind of habitats in
the Mediterranean and Red Seas, Personal Submersibles, and Jason Projects ROV is
what. You need to have at least 20 items, 10 of them need pictures.
2. How does a submarine actually dive and surface? PHYSICS!! Archimedes careful
experiments to measure the amount of water displace by any object. Through these
experiments he found that objects float because:
Archimedes Principle: Any object wholly or partially immersed in a liquid is
buoyed up be a force equal to the weigh of liquid displaced.
Translate this principle into easy to understand principles: (think like a 5th grader very
simple terms only. No long equations)
a. Any Object means:
b. Wholly or partially submerged means:
c. A liquid means:
d. Buoyed up by a force means:
e. Equal to the weight of liquid displaced means:
f. The word Displaced means:
There is another law of physics that says no two objects can occupy the same space at the same
time.
How does this apply to your ROV project?
What might be happening to your device when it is in water?
What is neutrally buoyant:
Negatively buoyant:
Positively buoyant:
To make things buoyant, you must add weight to your project. Where do you think you should
add this weight? Test these theories out in our sink or your tub at home.
What can be use as floats, as ballast, as thrusters?
How can you calculate buoyancy for your project? (Think like a 5th grader very simple terms
only. No long equations)

Construction of your ROV

3. Define an objective:
The overall objective is to design a small underwater vehicle that can be used in a
bathtub or pool. It has to be simple to construct from parts easily available in a local
hardware and hobby store. It should also teach the team the basics of ROV operation
and design. It should be simple, strong, and fun to operate. It must be able to go up
and down, right, left, forward, and reverse. It must be able to pick up metal washers at
the bottom of a bathtub or pool. It should be able to travel up to 12. The power
supply for this project will be a 12 volt power supply of some type.
a. Has anything like this been done before? Research different ideas and print out
pictures. These will go into your research book you are creating.
b. Limit the cost of construction. Your limit for this project is $40. You must include
in your research book the cost of all the materials used in construction. Do not
include the cost of the tools you used.
c. Make a plan. Brainstorm at least 10 different ideas or ideas piggybacked on
others. (Remember!! There is no idea to wild in this stage.) Rough sketches are
required of all of your ideas.
d. Answer the following about your ideas from above.
How can this be done?
What can be used to build this project?
Do our ideas follow the original objectives?
e. If your ideas are too wild or could not be built in this class refine them. Answer
the questions from (d) above and start again.
f. You need to draw CAD drawings of your final ideas. Each part needs to have a
drawing. You can either have a CAD drawing or sketch of the assembled project.
g. Begin construction of the project. Testing can be done in the sink or a bathtub.
The final project will be done in the pool.