SeaPerch Remotely Operated Vehicle, Construction Manual, Page: 10 / 110

SeaPerch ROV Construction Manual
– Version 2010-04NW
I-4
maintaining a standardized set of assembly instructions that can be fielded
nationwide, the manual
’s format has been updated to enable easy
substitution of
proven and approved procedures to implement construction " options ," in place of
corresponding standard procedures, and addition of new procedures for
construction “
enhancements
” to add capabilities to the ROV. These optional and
enhancement procedures are contained in a separate document,
“
SeaPerch ROV
Construction Manual Supplement
–
Options and Enhancements
–
Version
2010-01 ,
”
which may be downloaded from the SeaPerch website . It contains a
number of alternate and added procedures that have been found to be useful to
improve ROV performance, simplify the build process, and/or lower costs.
This "Northwest Program Options" version of the standard Version 2010-01
manual has been customized to meet the needs of Pacific Northwest and Alaska
schools. It has been assembled with
alternate procedures from the supplement
for the following SeaPerch construction options and enhancements already
substituted for the corresponding standard SeaPerch procedures.

Fabrication and Use of Low-Cost PVC Tube Floats as Alternate Floatation
o
Instead of Foam Floats and the H-Columns on which they are Mounted
o
Improves ROV Operation in Deep Water & Enables Easy Front-to-Back Trim Adjustment

Use of Front PVC Tees as Attachment Points and for Fast Draining
o
Instead of PVC Elbows

Use of a Toggle Switch for the Vertical Thruster
o
Instead of Two, More-Expensive, Pushbutton Switches

Use of Alternate Motor 1 with Film Canisters for Thruster Housings
o
Smaller, Less-Expensive Motors
– Instead of Standard SeaPerch Motors
o
Use of Film Canisters for the Thruster Housings
– Instead of Larger, Costly, Plastic Vials
o
Simplified Motor Insertion for the Wax-Potting Procedure
– Faster, Easier, & Less Rework

Use of a No-Adhesive Mounting Method for Reusable, Standard Propellers
o
Instead of Costly Shaft Couplers with Nuts and Two-Part Adhesive
o
Propellers Can Be Reused Many Times (Avoided Future Cost)

Use of Quick-Disconnect Battery-Terminal Connectors and an Alternate Motor Test
o
Instead of More-Expensive Alligator Clips

Addition of a Payload Capture Net and a Front Payload Net Stiffener
o
To Improve the ROV’s Ability to Pick Up Bottom Objects
More options and enhancements will likely be developed from time to time as
clever students and their teachers continue to invent and demonstrate new ways
to build SeaPerch ROVs. By using the supplement approach and the new page
numbering scheme, future new procedures can easily be added to the supplement
document and then to individual classroom manuals when needed, without
impacting the content of the standard build manual.
Future new procedures will need to go through a short demonstration and
approval process before being added to the master manual supplement document
that is maintained at the
SeaPerch website for downloading as needed.