Working with the ROVs for MATE with the UW & the SJFC to get ’em working ASAP…
Posted March 28, 2011 at 4:09 pm by Ian Byington
Corwin Perren (left) and Nicki Le Baron help assemble the ROV.
Michael Barsamian (he’s also the keeper with the good hands for the soccer team) and Sarah Clark (heckuva actress – she was Iris in FHHS’ Still Life With Iris) are part of the program at FHHS that is doing amazing things underwater…here’s their report:
The beginnings of the actual ROV.
It is getting down to crunch time for the high school and middle school teams currently participating in the MATE competition to create an underwater remote operated vehicle (ROV). Under the guidance of high school teachers Nick Frazee and Marc Vermeire, these students have so far successfully designed and started the building process of their ROVs. The process has taken place at the University of Washington San Juan Island Marine Biology Labs, and the students have been testing their ROVs at the San Juan Health Club.
Both teams have been working every week to complete their ROVs for the competition. The MATE competition requires the teams to create an ROV capable of carrying out underwater missions, simulating tasks such as capping an oil well, collecting biological samples, removing damaged pipes, measuring depth, and so on.
Boasting teams of 14 high school students and 8 middle school students, these teams will travel to the city of Federal Way on May 7th for a regional competition. There a panel of judges will grade them on the success of their robots in their missions and the presentation of the project.
The communications team, made up of five high school students, will give the presentation. This team takes care of all of the paperwork, press releases, and the presentation itself.
If the teams win this regional competition, the next step is an international competition in Texas. More updates will be given in the near future.
The participants on the Friday Harbor MATE would like to thank their mentors, the Labs for donating their space and initial funds for the construction of these ROVs, and the Public Schools Foundation.
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