Deep Sea - STEM Challenge

Design and Build an ROV

Have you ever wondered how scientists study ocean life below the surface? There are a few different methods including satellites, Sonar, and Remotely operated vehicles (ROV’s). ROVs are submersible robots that are able to perform all sorts of different tasks in the deep ocean while being remotely controlled from above. 

Make your own ROV grabbing arm and see if you can collect items off the seafloor.  Get creative, and have fun.  There are no rules, the idea is to design, create and experiment. Check out the Slideshow to learn more about ROVs and how scientists use them to learn more about the Ocean.

Materials: 

• Anything that you have on hand or a few of these suggestions:

• Recycling materials - cardboard, plastic containers, anything reusable

• Paper

• Coloured pencils

• Ruler

• Tape

• Scissors

• Paint

• String

• Glue

• Pipecleaners

• Elastics

• Popsicle Sticks or branches

• Lego

• Gummy worms, gummy bears or mini marshmallows

Phase 1 - Design your ROV Arm

1. ​Begin by designing a blueprint for your model. Have Team 1 design the ROV and Team 2 design the ROV Arm. Be sure to communicate between teams to ensure the ROV and the ARM can work together.

2. What kind of arm are you going to make?  Will your arm be able to pick something up?

3. Draw your ideas on paper, and don’t be afraid to change them as you go.

4. Add a scale, think about the size and the number of materials you will need.

5. Map out a seafloor for your ROV and ROV Arm to navigate.  Choose an area in the classroom or at home, you can decide how large. Start with a 15” by 15” square. Use other objects from the room to create a challenging terrain.

Phase 2 - Build your ROV Arm

1. Using the materials you have chosen and the design that you have created, begin building your ROV Arm. 

2. Test your arm for functionality and strength as you build.

3. Challenge yourself and only use the materials that you originally decided on. 

4. Make adjustments to your design/drawing and record these changes as you go.

Phase 3 - Design your ROV (optional)

1. Chose your materials and, sketch a blueprint for an ROV.

2. Will there be an attachment point for the arm? Will the ROV be big enough and strong enough to support the arm?

3. How will the ROV be propelled through the water?

4. Make adjustments to your design/drawing as you go.

5. Give your ROV a name!

Challenge your ROV Arm

1. Set up a seafloor. You can make it as big or as small as you like. Add obstacles to the sea floor like pillows or lego structures. 

2. Place a few treats or toys on the seafloor, these are your targets.

3. Challenge yourself to collect all of the targets without using your own hands. Do your best to avoid all of the obstacles.

4. Challenge someone else to try your ROV Arm, how long did it take for them to collect all of the targets?

Take it a Step Further

1. For those classrooms and students that would like to, we challenge you to have an ROV competition.  Build and design more than one ROV and an ROV Arm for a battle of the Robots.

2. Try to come up with your own challenge for the ROV and ROV Arm to work together.

3. Build a model of your ROV design!

4. Send us photos and videos of your creations using #liveitearth

5. Have fun!

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