SeaPerch II introduces college students to underwater ROV exploration
— March nineteenth, 2025
Whereas professionals around the globe benefit from Arduino merchandise and the in depth ecosystem, the core Arduino philosophy is to simplify advanced know-how. A naked microcontroller is intimidating to the uninitiated, however an Arduino improvement board is pleasant and approachable. MIT Sea Grant is harnessing that in their new SeaPerch II underwater ROV (remotely operated automobile) design that’s excellent for college kids.
The MIT Sea Grant program launched the unique SeaPerch initiative approach again in 2003 as a solution to carry college students into the underwater world of ROVs. That authentic SeaPerch was reasonably priced to construct with frequent components, however know-how has progressed so much prior to now couple of many years and the brand new SeaPerch II will make use of what the trendy scene has to supply.
Specifically, SeaPerch II will take a brand new modular strategy for sensors, gripping, and knowledge assortment programs. These modules are constructed round Arduino boards for max accessibility and suppleness.
SeaPerch II continues to be in its infancy, however there are already a couple of modules out there which can be suitable with the brand new base ROV.
Module 1, for instance, is a “robotic whisker sensor” designed across the Arduino UNO household of boards. It’s a versatile, waterproof sensor that depends on variable resistance to detect contact with bodily objects.
Module 2 is a strain, depth, and temperature sensor. As soon as once more, the core part is an Arduino board. That displays an Adafruit LPS35HW strain sensor sealed inside a balloon. Because the depth will increase, so does the water strain outdoors the balloon. That, in flip, will increase the air strain contained in the balloon and the sensor measures the change.
Like the unique SeaPerch, SeaPerch II will supply college students the possibility to change into acquainted with underwater ROVs and acquire useful abilities alongside the way in which.
