Programs/Curricula

FREE
Companion Curriculum
Click image to download.

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MISSION: See Deep, ROV (V04)

THIS PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE. ROV DOWN FOR REPAIRS.

Discover how remotely operated vehicles are used to explore the mysterious realms of the deep.

Objective: The student will learn what remotely operated vehicles are used, the parts of a ROV and how they work. Students will also experience what it is like to operate a ROV by operating either our VideoRay or Phantom ROV.

Time required: Approximately 60 minutes.

Cost: $155.00 USD program fee, plus an optional $20 tone dialer rental fee (see below).

Recommended Grade Level: 4th-8th grade (students age 9-13 years).

Materials: Please note the special requirements for this programs.

A videoconferencing system capable of 384 Kbps or more, ISDN (required).
Note: In order to make certain clear control signals can be sent from your site to the ROV, we do not recommend this conference for multipoint or commodity IP connections. This program is also not recommended for groups larger than thirty (30) students.
Tone dialer (required, see below).
The SeaTrek companion curriculum for MISSION: See Deep, ROV (Lesson 3 required)
(See curriculum appendix for alignment to National and Sunshine State Standards).
One (1) set of MISSION pages per student in each appropriate group (required).
VideoRay ROV spec sheet or Phantom ROV spec sheet (optional).

Overview: In the videoconference, Mote Marine Laboratory will present a highly interactive, media-rich videoconference on remotely operated vehicles. During this conference, students will get a chance to pilot a ROV in the Mote shark tank from their school using videoconferencing technology and a tone dialer.

Opening featuring overview of ROV technology (~10 minutes)
MISSION 1: Underwater Cartography (~15 minutes)
MISSION 2: Marine Biology (~15 minutes)
MISSION 3: Underwater Cinematography (~15 minutes)
Questions and Answers. (~5 minutes)

Vidcon pre-questions:

What are remotely operated vehicles?
How are ROVs used?

About Scheduling: Because of the extra set-up time required for our ROV program, we try to cluster the deliveries on the same day whenever possible. However, if you need a different date than the ones already indicated, please let us know. In addition, we also recommend a start time of no later than 3:00 PM ET for our ROV program.

To register for this program, click here.

VideoRay ROV in Mote's Shark Tank. [200x150/7K]

A student controls the ROV from their classroom. [200x150/10K]

Tone Dialer

This conference requires the use of a tone dialer. Some videoconferencing systems have built-in tone dialers (Polycom, for example). Otherwise, a pocket tone dialer (see photo) can be purchased from most specialty electronics supply store for less than $20 or from on-line vendors *. If you can not purchase your own pocket tone dialer, please contact us about renting one of ours for a refundable fee of $20 (minus postage).

Instructions for using the tone dialer during the ROV conference can be found below, as well as on page 19 of the companion curriculum. To download a short video to see how easily students in Howe, OK controlled our ROV, cick here.

Using a tone dialer during the SeaTrek ROV conference

From their classroom, students can use a tone dialer to easily direct the movements of the ROV in our shark tank. Each numbered button of the dialer makes a different sound, just like a telephone. Each sound drives the ROV in a different direction (see Direction Control below).

Proper placement of a tone dialer over a microphone. [200x150/7K]

Pocket Tone Dialers

Turn it on.
Hold the dialer directly over your microphone.
Choose a direction to drive the ROV and press the corresponding button on the dialer. For the VideoRay ROV, releasing the button stops the ROV. For the Phantom ROV, press * or # to stop the signal. We will let you know which vehicle is being deployed for your conference. Remember, it is better to move in short bursts.
Watch out for rocks and the walls of the tank.
Be aware that while students are driving the ROV with the dialer, it may be difficult for Mote’s presenter to hear questions.
Turn off the dialer when finished.

Direction control

For a diagram of the control buttons used with the VideoRay ROV, click here.
For a diagram of the control buttons used with the Phantom ROV, see page #19 of the MISSION: See Deep, ROV curriculum (above) or click here.

SeaTrek Marine Science Reference

This following information is provided as a general resource for learners, and can be used to prepare for or extend the videoconference material.

Mote Marine Laboratory:

Autonomous Gliders: Mote's Phytoplankton Ecology Program uses an AUV (Slocum gliders) intended to monitor red tide off the west coast of Florida. Here is a recent news story about the glider: Robots used to monitor red tide.

Elsewhere on the Web*:

VideoRay: Manufacturers of SeaTrek's smaller, inspection-class ROV.
Deep Ocean Engineering: Manufacturers of the Matilda B, SeaTrek's larger, Phantom-type ROV.
Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center: Organizers of the National ROV Competition for High School & College Students and other challenges.
Fish Robot: Students at the Power and Energy Engineering Division of the Japenese National Maritime Research Institute model their robots design on fish biology.
Build Your Own Underwater Robot: A book by Harry Bohm and Vickie Jensen with projects that are fun and challenging to build.

SeaTrek Videoconferencing Brings Science Alive!