tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38501963861619732162024-02-07T14:06:01.300-08:00Swimmy Thang!For Students of Underwater Robotics and those whose passion is the Ocean! We look at how to build simple underwater robots (ROVs), and stay abreast of the news in Underwater Robotics!The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-53801724638840758982008-07-03T22:39:00.000-07:002008-07-21T05:55:39.812-07:00New video from the 2008 International ROV Competition<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xpNzmLk6ZwY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xpNzmLk6ZwY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/D6BMJSj-aoo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/D6BMJSj-aoo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />This is video of the Genesis ROV before the competition.<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LBbP940VyHo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LBbP940VyHo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com122tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-60649180632696928882008-07-01T20:14:00.000-07:002008-07-01T20:19:32.879-07:00Seventh Annual International ROV Competition ScoresHere is a link to the final mission scores for the Seventh Annual International ROV Competition. The final placement of teams is decided by combining the mission scores with the Poster, and Engineering evaluations. <a href="http://www.marinetech.org/rov_competition/2008/live/MATE-R1.html">These are the Ranger Scores.</a> <a href="http://www.marinetech.org/rov_competition/2008/live/MATE-E1.html">These are the Explorer class scores.</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-9831053509415329522008-07-01T13:50:00.000-07:002008-07-01T14:15:03.876-07:00Guts and GloryHi Folks!<br />Every year at the International Competition, one team seems to find a special place in my heart. This year it was the Dalhousie Privateers from Canada. These guys spent most of the competition parked in front of the repair table. To begin with, their control box was dismantled by Homeland Security when they came across the border so they had to put that back together. Then they had camera problems. Then a wire got stuck in the seal to their Pelican box which is the box that keeps all those important electronics dry when the bot goes in the water. The box flooded, destroying the on board computer. They worked all day and through the night to re-engineer the electronics so they could put the bot in the water. When they competed on the final day, the laptop computer belonging to one of the students on the team was physically inside the Pelican box that was going underwater. They managed to earn 60 points in their final challenge. It wasn't enough for them to place in the competition but their grace under fire earned them the Explorer class Guts and Glory Award and a permanent place in my heart. They re-named their bot Liquid Death because every time it hit water it died. Clearly their sense of humor remained intact. Here is a bit of video that Lens took on the second day. My hat goes off to you guys and I hope I see you again next year!<br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/Ab_6EgA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="270" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed><br /><br /><a href="http://www.splashvision.com/Video/17113_Dalhousie-Privateers,-2008-ROV--Launching-Into-Pool.html">Here</a> is a link to more video of this team.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-28059410039938364232008-06-30T18:29:00.000-07:002008-07-21T21:18:29.196-07:00A Conversation on Leadership with Lisa SpenceHi folks! The Tool Goddess here, reporting in from the <a href="http://marinetech.org/rov_competition/2008/live/index.html">7th annual International ROV Competition</a> being held at <a href="http://www.ucsd.edu/portal/site/ucsd">University of California-San Diego</a>, and the <a href="http://www.sio.ucsd.edu/About/">Scrips Institution of Oceanography</a> in San Diego California. I have had the opportunity to work with some really exceptional people. Here is an interview with someone I wish all of you could meet. Her name is Lisa Spence, and she is an engineer at <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/home/index.html">NASA’s Johnson Space Center</a> where she is currently working with the <a href="http://www.america.gov/st/space-english/2008/May/20080519133241lcnirellep0.5791895.html">Constellation Program.</a><br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/Ab_jfwA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="270" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Vision<br />Patience<br />Communication<br />Passion<br />Credibility<br />Care about your people</span><br /><br />When you first hear words like these they seem like a list and the story is about someone you admire. Words offer a vision, and it is by doing an event like the International ROV Competition that skill sets like these become a part of who <span style="font-weight:bold;">you</span> are.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-55188977808538981022008-06-28T23:55:00.000-07:002008-07-01T20:08:02.891-07:00The 2008 International Mission and team interviews<script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"><br /></script>Hi all!<br /><br />Here is a description of the <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://www.marinetech.org/rov_competition/2008/2008_Missions_FINAL.pdf">missions</a></span> for the 2008 internationals! This year the scenarios were build around tasks that might arise while exploring Oceanic Ridges.<br />I was at the repair table most of the day yesterday so my co-conspirator Lens took this video for me of some of the teams competing. I thought he did great interviews! There was no rhyme or reason for which teams got interviewed for Swimmy Thang!. It was just luck of the draw... who was on deck the day Lens got out with the camera.<br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/Ab+6bgA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="270" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br />_uacct = "UA-1508784-1";<br />urchinTracker();<br /></script><br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/Ab_7WQA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="270" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed><br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/Ab+qOAA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="270" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed><br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/AcCAKAA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="270" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed><br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/AcCBaQA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="270" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-57142856645273869042008-06-27T22:05:00.000-07:002008-06-27T22:24:04.360-07:00International ROV Competition day 2Hi folks!<br /><br />It's late and I'm tired so I'm going to be brief. The repair table vacillated between simple and severe today. Most repairs were simple but the ones that were serious were devastating. The Dalhousie team flooded their control cannister and spent the entire day working on a fix. It was bad enough that their mentor offered them the option of retiring from the competition and enjoying the rest of the week as spectators. These guys really have guts! They are working through the night to come up with a fix. If the team is up for it, I'll get an interview before the Competition is over. Win, lose or draw these are some guys you should meet. I am going to post some unedited video of the posters I was able to see yesterday. I'll come back and refine things later but thought you would like to see it asap. Cheers!<br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/Ab+aaAA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="270" width="320"></embed><br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/Ab+afwA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="270" width="320"></embed><br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/Ab+aVQA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="270" width="320"></embed><br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/Ab+aQwA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="270" width="320"></embed><br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/Ab+aNwA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="270" width="320"></embed><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-8161728266301624042008-06-27T00:16:00.000-07:002008-07-01T00:37:28.480-07:00The 7th Annual International ROV Competition<script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"><br /></script>It is the end of the first day of the seventh annual International ROV Competition that is sponsored by Marine Advanced Technology Education. Wow! What a day. It began with opening remarks by Jill Zande of <a href="http://marinetech.org/">Marine Advanced Technology Education.</a> <br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/Ab_qXAA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="270" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed><br /><br />Jill Then introduced Dr.Donna Blackman who is a researcher from <a href="http://www.sio.ucsd.edu/">Scripps Institution of Oceanography. </a><br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/Ab_qPAA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="270" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed><br /><br />More information on the Ridge 2000 Program can be found <a href="http://www.ridge2000.org/">here</a>!<br /><br />I have had the opportunity to attend all but two of the international competitions, so it has been great to reconnect with old friends and meet some new ones. If time permits, I"ll introduce you to the rogues gallery of people who have been involved with the competition since its' inception. It's late, and I'm tired so thats all for now folks. <script type="text/javascript"><br />_uacct = "UA-1508784-1";<br />urchinTracker();<br /></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-44288809363785593622008-02-13T22:16:00.001-08:002008-02-13T22:18:57.525-08:00New Video from the MATE 2007 ROV CompetitionHi All,<br /> Here is a new video clip from the 2007 ROV Competition. Hope you enjoy it!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TeFctnv5vVI&rel=1&border=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TeFctnv5vVI&rel=1&border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"width="425" height="355"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-14248274241262240432008-02-10T19:19:00.000-08:002008-02-10T19:32:59.709-08:00Advanced ROV Workshop offered by the MATE CenterThere is an Advanced ROV workshop being planned by the Marine Advanced Technology Education Center at Monterey Peninsula College. I am posting their flyer here for those who might be interested in participating. Cheers!<br /><br />Summer workshop for high school, college & university faculty on<br />Advanced Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Building for Classroom Projects<br />July 11-17, 2008<br />Monterey Peninsula College: Monterey, California<br /><br />The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center’s annual<br />Summer Institute for Faculty Development provides educators from high<br />schools, community colleges, and universities from across the country<br />with the skills and experiences they need to incorporate marine science<br />and technology topics into their classrooms.<br /> <br />In addition to lecture and hands-on time, there will be field trips including a research cruise on the Monterey Bay and trips to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.<br /><br /><br />The MATE ROV Institute will provide a forum for educators, especially<br />those interested in participating in future MATE/ Marine Technology<br />Society’s ROV Committee Student ROV Competitions, to:<br /><br />(1) Acquire the knowledge and skills needed to implement ROV design<br />and building curriculum in their classrooms.<br />(2) Gain exposure to and an understanding of the type of work that ROV<br />technicians do and the technologies they use.<br />(3) Learn about the many career opportunities available in the<br />submersible technology field.<br />(4) Field trips and the opportunities to meet ROV pilots and technicians<br />will help participants to better appreciate the type of work these<br />professionals do and the technologies they use.<br /><br /><br />During the ROV institute participants will:<br /><br /><br />▼ Build a small-scale, fully functional ROV that can be replicated with students.<br />▼ Use the vehicle to complete a set of pre-determined missions.<br />▼ Acquire the knowledge, skills, and resources to effectively mentor students in<br />designing and building an ROV to participate in future MATE/ MTS ROV<br />Committee competitions.<br />▼ Learn how to use a basic stamp to program their ROVs to use more advanced<br />motor controls and sensors.<br />▼ Visit and interact with undersea engineers, ROV pilots, and marine technicians<br />to understand the work they do and the technologies they use.<br />▼ Make connections with educators with similar interests<br />and share “best practices” in teaching and instruction.<br /><br /><br />Workshop participants should be:<br /><br />▼ A current faculty member at a college, university, or<br />high school. (If you do not fall into one of these categories,<br />you will need to add a compelling statement to<br />your application as to why you should attend.)<br />▼ Willing to return to your institution and either start an<br />ROV course or club or integrate ROV technology into<br />your current marine science, technology, or engineering courses.<br />▼ Willing to share with the MATE Center what you have accomplished as a result<br />of the workshop. This could be adapting lessons from the workshop to your<br />region, adding tasks/skills to the lessons, or developing new courses and new<br />programs.<br /><br />Three graduate credits are an option offered for attending the institute through<br />California State University Monterey Bay (participants must cover the cost of registering for the course).<br /><br />Costs: There is no fee for participating in this institute. In addition, hotel accommodations, lunches and three dinners will be provided by the MATE Center. Participants will be required to provide their own transportation to and from Monterey, CA.<br /><br />Note: If you live less than 50 miles from Monterey, California, hotel accommodations<br />will not be provided.<br /><br />For more information on our summer institutes and to find application<br />forms, please visit the <a href="http://www.marinetech.org/education/workshops.php ">MATE</a> web site or contact Lani Clough, MATE’s Faculty Development Coordinator at<br />lclough@marinetech.org or (831) 646-4011.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-18673000674143576862008-01-28T23:13:00.000-08:002008-01-31T15:03:02.558-08:00New Video of Camera Waterproofing Workshop !Hi All!<br /> This weekend I was privileged to conduct a camera waterproofing workshop hosted by the Marine Advanced Technology Education Center at Monterey Peninsula College. Our friend and associate Dan Atwell was present and videoed the presentation for me. I have edited the video and am presenting it even though it is less than perfect. For those visiting the site who were in attendance, I look forward to conversing with you on the blog. I was impressed with your passion and am looking forward to seeing the bots you create! If you have any questions please feel free to post them to the blog or e-mail me at sail2kay@yahoo.com Cheers, The Tool Goddess<br /><br />If you want to build this camera You will need:<br /><br />1 Anaconda color camera from <a href="http://www.x10.com/cameras/sc18a_s.html">X10.com</a><br />4 oz kit EnviroTex Lite from <a href="http://www.createforless.com/search/searchResults.asp?SearchAction=Restart&SearchWord=envirotex%20lite&gclid=CLvV2JCElIsCFQQXIwod7l-qSA">Create for Less</a><br />1 jar from <a href="http://www.mcmaster.com/nav/enter.asp?partnum=42905T24&pagenum=1541">McMaster Carr </a>part #4188T41<br />5 minute epoxy<br />side cutters<br />1 small (electronics) phillips screw driver<br />dye from <a href="http://www.eagerplastics.com/7701.htm">Eager Plastics</a> (optional)<br />and a healthy dose of patience!<br /><br />The step by step instructions are available <a href="http://swimmythang.blogspot.com/2007/03/how-to-build-underwater-video-camera.html">here.</a><br /><br /><center> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://blip.tv/scripts/pokkariPlayer.js?ver=2007111701"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://blip.tv/syndication/write_player?skin=js&posts_id=642562&source=3&autoplay=true&file_type=flv&player_width=&player_height="></script> <div id="blip_movie_content_642562"> <a rel="enclosure" href="http://blip.tv/file/get/Dangangry-CameraWaterproofingWorkshop397.flv" onclick="play_blip_movie_642562(); return false;"><img title="Click to play" alt="Video thumbnail. Click to play" src="http://blip.tv/file/get/Dangangry-CameraWaterproofingWorkshop397.flv.jpg" border="0" title="Click To Play" /></a> <br /> <a rel="enclosure" href="http://blip.tv/file/get/Dangangry-CameraWaterproofingWorkshop397.flv" onclick="play_blip_movie_642562(); return false;">Click To Play</a> </div> </center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-62836890828341008902007-09-29T17:46:00.000-07:002007-09-29T17:48:38.638-07:00Must See Cruise Video!!!Hi All.<br /> This video was forwarded to me by Jill Zande at the Marine Advanced Technology Center in Monterey California. It is a real hoot!!!! You just have to watch it!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yjTbPtv88sI"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yjTbPtv88sI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-34140768576653138182007-06-28T21:01:00.000-07:002007-06-28T22:12:33.722-07:00International ROV Competition Video and photo linkey goodness!Another International ROV competition has come to a close! Here is a short video clip to whet your interest! Also here are <a href="http://www.marinetech.org/rov_competition/2007/results/index.html">links</a> to photos and scores for the event. Below you will find links to the tasks teams had to accomplish and the specs for the missions. These were sophisticated tasks, and my kudos go out to all who participated!<br /><br />Mission 1: <a href="http://www.marinetech.org/rov_competition/2007/Mission_1_FINAL.pdf">The flume tank </a><br />Mission 2: <a href="http://www.marinetech.org/rov_competition/2007/Mission_2_FINAL.pdf">The Ice Tank</a><br />Mission 3: <a href="http://www.marinetech.org/rov_competition/2007/Mission_3_FINAL.pdf">Offshore Engineering Basin<br /></a><br /><br /><br /><center><script src="http://blip.tv/scripts/pokkariPlayer.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><script src="http://blip.tv/syndication/write_player?skin=js&posts_id=288876&source=3&autoplay=true&file_type=flv&player_width=&player_height=" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><div id="blip_movie_content_288876"><a onclick="play_blip_movie_288876(); return false;" href="http://blip.tv/file/get/Dangangry-MateInternationalCompetition998.avi"><img title="Click To Play" src="http://blip.tv/file/get/Dangangry-MateInternationalCompetition998.avi.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onclick="play_blip_movie_288876(); return false;" href="http://blip.tv/file/get/Dangangry-MateInternationalCompetition998.avi">Click To Play</a></div></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-31895566966390827692007-06-13T17:46:00.000-07:002007-06-13T18:17:42.720-07:00Buoyancy for your Swimmy Thang!Our friend and co-conspirator Dan Atwell has taken time out of his busy life to create a great article for Swimmy Thang! on how to determine how much buoyancy your bot will need. Thank you Dan!!! Your contribution is greatly appreciated!<br /><br />Here is a little basic video to get you up to speed for Dans experiments!<br /> <br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hkT3ulsGWyA"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hkT3ulsGWyA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> <br /><br />Buoy•an•cy noun, Pronunciation [boi-uh n-see, boo-yuh n-see] <br /><br />1. The power to float or rise in a fluid; relative lightness. <br />2. The power of supporting an object so that it floats; caused by upward pressure exerted by the fluid in which an object is immersed. <br /><br /> The majority of ROV’s, are heavier than water, and most of the time buoyancy is achieved through trial and error. Hopefully we will have changed this method to a more positive way of calculating the buoyancy for ROV’s.<br /><br />Example to test ROV buoyancy<br /><br /> First weigh your ROV on a scale. As an example in our trial we used a 5lb weight (M1). We tied our weight to a cord to and let it sink to the bottom. This was submerged in a 5 gal tub of water filled to the top. We pulled the weight out of the water by the cord. Let the weight drain over the tub until all the water drains off weight. Now carefully measure the water you put back into the tub to fill it up to the top and that is the displacement weight of the water lets say as an example it comes to 7 oz of water (M2). A little less than a cup of water. Now subtract that M2 from M1 and that gives you the true weight (TM). <br /> <br /> To test your ROV, you will need to find a container large enough to follow the steps above. Not to large so that you can not measure the displaced water. <br /> <br /> M2 – M1 = TM or 7oz - 5lb = 4.9lb TM <br /><br /> The weight of freshwater is 62.4lb per cubic ft.<br /> The weight of saltwater is 64lb per cubic ft.<br /><br /> For our purpose of our test we used salt water to calculate the rest of the formula. Now divide true weight (TM) by 64.<br /> <br /> 4.9lb / 64 = .07 cubic ft of air <br /><br /> By the way a cubic ft of air weighs .08lb. A cubic ft is 12 inches x 12 inches x 12 inches, and that equals 1728 cubic inches. Now back to the equation, we need .07 cubic ft of air to make our weight become neutral buoyancy. Multiple 1728 cubic inches by .07 cubic ft of air and that equals 120.96 cubic inches of air needed.<br /><br /> .07 x 1728 cubic inches =120.96 <br /><br /> Now we need a container that has 120.96 cubic inches of air in it. If we use a cylinder (cylinder weight was included in the weight with cap removed). Using a cylinder, with a 3 inch inside diameter, we will need to calculate the length of the cylinder to accommodate the 120.96 cubic inches of air we will need to float the 5lb weight.<br /><br /> The formula for a cylinder, Volume = pi (3.14159) x ratios squared x height.<br /> <br />V = pi r2 h<br /><br />120.96 = 3.14159 x 2.25” x 17.11”<br /> <br /> How was the formula calculated, multiply 3.14159 (pi) times 2.25 (r x r) equals 7.0685775. Now divide 120.96 sq in of air by 7.0685775 equals 17.11. So the cylinder will be 17.11 inches long.<br /><br /> Now we should think about were to place the cylinder to balance the weight of the 5lb’s and make it float level in the water. You will have to determine the center of the 5lb’s and attach the cylinder (float).<br />Interesting Note<br />It is named after <a href="http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Archimedes">Archimedes</a> of <a href="http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Syracuse,_Sicily">Syracuse</a>, who first discovered this law. <a href="http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Vitruvius">Vitruvius </a> (<a href="http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/De_architectura">De architectura IX.9–12)</a> recounts the famous story of Archimedes making this discovery while in the bath (for which see <a href="http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Eureka_%28word%29">eureka</a>) but the actual record of Archimedes' discoveries appears in his two-volume work, On Floating Bodies. The ancient <a href="http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Chinese_people">Chinese</a> child prodigy <a href="http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Cao_Chong">Cao Chong </a>also applied the principle of buoyancy in order to measure the accurate weight of an elephant, as described in the <a href="http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Records_of_Three_Kingdoms">Sanguo Zhi</a>. <br /> If there are any question, E-mail Dan Atwell at jdatwell@sbcglobal.net<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-31596641376655925462007-06-12T16:54:00.000-07:002007-06-12T16:57:23.214-07:00Ten Things You Should Know About the Ocean<blockquote>"I beg you,Leave me restless.I live with the impossible oceanAnd silence bleeds me dry!"<br />Pablo Naruda</blockquote><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u50/kisslizz/396668507_5606f93339.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" /></a><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br />_uacct = "UA-1508784-1";<br />urchinTracker();<br /></script><br />1. <a href="http://marinebio.org/Oceans/OceanResources.asp">The ocean is responsible for between 50 and 70% of the oxygen we breathe.</a> <br /><br />2. <a href="http://www.jason.oceanobs.com/html/applications/climat/welcome_uk.html">The ocean is a major player in regulating Earths climate.</a><br /><br /><br />3. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/science/05/14/coolsc.disappearingfish/">Only 10% of large ocean fish remain.</a> <br /><br />4. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean">The ocean covers about 70% of the Earths surface.</a><br /> <br />5. <a href="http://science.hq.nasa.gov/oceans/living/index.html">Over 1/3 of the human population globally lives within 60 miles of an ocean coast.</a> <br /><br />6. <a href="http://www.ngsednet.org/community/resource_uploads/OceanLitChart.pdf">Less than 5% of the global ocean has been explored.</a><br /><br /><br />7. <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/02/060214080938.htm">New previously undescribed marine species are discovered daily.</a><br /> <br />8. <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/02/060214080938.htm">Between 13 and 16% of human protein consumption is derived from marine organisms.</a><br /><br />9. <a href="http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc_tar/wg1/005.htm">Global Ocean temperature is on the rise</a><br /> <br />10. She is beautiful!!! But you already knew that!<br /><br /><br />Exponential growth is a wonderful thing! It means that information can spread very quickly and we need for that to happen if we are to protect the global ocean and the creatures that reside there. What exponential growth means is a series of numbers like 1,2,4,8,16,32,64,128,256,512,... where each number is the double of the one previous. To spread information that means each one teach two other people. What that means is that if each person who sees this shares it with two other people and each of them does the same, by a week from now, the whole planet will know! Each one teach one. We'll get it done!<br /><br />Akonitum posted a wonderful YouTube video about exponential growth. It is a double edged sword so to speak. Exponential growth viv a vis population is not a good thing...but exponential growth vis a vis ocean information is good!!!! I'm re-posting the video he/she linked to here as I feel it is a really instructive video.<br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hM1x4RljmnE"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hM1x4RljmnE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-91852824597265645142007-05-06T18:26:00.000-07:002007-05-06T18:28:25.817-07:00Underwater ScienceI have recieved a few questions about things like buoyancy and hydrodynamics. Since I am not especially expert in these areas, I have created a link list that you will find on the right hand side of the page that will take you to sites I feel are useful. Hope you enjoy them too!<br /><script type="text/javascript"><br />_uacct = "UA-1508784-1";<br />urchinTracker();<br /></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-33805629320347342592007-04-24T22:11:00.000-07:002007-04-25T12:24:07.116-07:00Monterey Bay Regional ROV Competition<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCI9bueiihsCpc2ihHfoqOBkYmStGpfl9LAdVGSWkTgO0pvCrDPgsGuAgEtcmGbJFc6vf8BLUPAdUIoonaeHPwBiecDjfjyUuVYxlNI90fG-8oBKuexG4MR9zPn8bffNd-VmU0z4if0AQ/s1600-h/DSC02100a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057231533277270866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCI9bueiihsCpc2ihHfoqOBkYmStGpfl9LAdVGSWkTgO0pvCrDPgsGuAgEtcmGbJFc6vf8BLUPAdUIoonaeHPwBiecDjfjyUuVYxlNI90fG-8oBKuexG4MR9zPn8bffNd-VmU0z4if0AQ/s400/DSC02100a.jpg" border="0" /></a> This bot was especially interesting to me because teams have struggled with manipulators. This system used bilge pump motors geared down with VEX system gears to create a very interesting manipulator. Because I was manning the repair table, I didn't get to see it in the water, but the team demo'ed it's operation for me on the hard. Very cool!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0y8Yy6zMgSDyCeRLOUYHJlZ3WqIjcmKCt1KqYUIKBmTl-0mFpT-k5ZPfV6XrHd_iVdsRGJME2jRgCfXca2uX5F6xyqvxx9yKRhPoCxCcK7aVuIn3rb8veKyg4FfIfajPJpjPxPOoNZuE/s1600-h/DSC01978a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057231537572238178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0y8Yy6zMgSDyCeRLOUYHJlZ3WqIjcmKCt1KqYUIKBmTl-0mFpT-k5ZPfV6XrHd_iVdsRGJME2jRgCfXca2uX5F6xyqvxx9yKRhPoCxCcK7aVuIn3rb8veKyg4FfIfajPJpjPxPOoNZuE/s400/DSC01978a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiN5mjlu5wEp9j03rf-A6RR3XCPV-jNwlNNsZIJqo0iwnGjR2DGp4m7NRsdsq1OS9xOj3XacWxsimYlM9Wxgq8SND80KCJVf4P1EDRpbQSxM9wzKtgJZCRAepD7XW0B-PUX53l52mZ8_E/s1600-h/DSC02056a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057231537572238194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiN5mjlu5wEp9j03rf-A6RR3XCPV-jNwlNNsZIJqo0iwnGjR2DGp4m7NRsdsq1OS9xOj3XacWxsimYlM9Wxgq8SND80KCJVf4P1EDRpbQSxM9wzKtgJZCRAepD7XW0B-PUX53l52mZ8_E/s400/DSC02056a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>One of the Regional competitions (The Monterey Bay Regional) that helps select competitors for the International Competition was held at Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey, California April 14th. I got to be there and boy was I impressed by the sophistication and diversity of the Bots I saw! I am posting a couple of photos of bots and also the results of the competition! Cheers, The Tool Goddess</div><br /><div><br />2007 Monterey Bay Regional RANGER Class AWARDS<br /></div><div>• Overall winners Based on overall, total score<br />1st Monterey High School – Team Nereus<br />Monterey, CA<br />• Plaque<br />• Trip on the Monterey Bay NMS R/V Fulmar<br />• Multimeter courtesy of the tool repair goddess<br />• A Natural History of the Monterey Bay resource book<br />• ADVANCES TO INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION</div><br /><div><br />2nd Hartnell Community College<br />Salinas, CA<br />(1st-time competitor)<br />• Plaque<br />• Tour of the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for AUV<br />Research<br />• Multimeter courtesy of the tool repair goddess<br />• A Natural History of the Monterey Bay resource book</div><br /><div><br />3rd California High School<br />San Ramon, CA<br />• Plaque<br />• Kayak Connections gift certificate and tour on Elkhorn<br />Slough with MATE Rules Judge Matt Gardner<br />• Multimeter courtesy of the tool repair goddess<br />• A Natural History of the Monterey Bay resource book</div><br /><div><br />• Mission Highest mission score (all 3 events combined)<br />Monterey High School – Team Nereus<br />Monterey, CA<br />• Plaque<br />• Tickets to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk<br />• Multimeter courtesy of the tool repair goddess<br />• A Natural History of the Monterey Bay resource book</div><br /><div><br />• Poster display Based on poster evaluation score<br />Santa Cruz High School<br />Santa Cruz, CA<br />(1st-time competitor)<br />• Plaque<br />• Cordell Bank NMS t-shirts and mugs</div><div></div><div>Congratulations to all who won, all who participated, and all who weathered the storm! The day was wet above and below the surface of the pool. We literally were wringing our our clothes but I didn't hear a single complaint about the conditions. Kudos to all who were there! The Tool Goddess</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-58437839991364482262007-03-26T20:29:00.000-07:002008-04-22T15:43:22.972-07:00How to Build an Underwater Video Camera for Your Swimmy Thang!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QiDV0LTffEbCgLEW4gtSNOwkFi4f5B_ftqTH5pxFgdouQrEulu9LhsSoFj3wlsw8ktNenbtouiVhbayFfa7A4u9WHo2yzCJX1VQ5cNFK-RHGu3t2c5uRdK9WMs7yDCYL9AWB7TPmT90/s1600-h/IMG_0315.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046484035055815426" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QiDV0LTffEbCgLEW4gtSNOwkFi4f5B_ftqTH5pxFgdouQrEulu9LhsSoFj3wlsw8ktNenbtouiVhbayFfa7A4u9WHo2yzCJX1VQ5cNFK-RHGu3t2c5uRdK9WMs7yDCYL9AWB7TPmT90/s400/IMG_0315.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>So you want to build an underwater video camera and you have a limited budget? Never fear! It can be done, thanks to the good folks at <a href="http://www.videoray.com/">Video Ray</a>, you can build an underwater video camera for about $60.00. They have tested this camera to a depth of 300 feet and I have tested it in 32 degree F. water for 4 hours and it just keeps on running ( I have not tested it at that temperature under pressure however).<br />You will need:<br />1 Anaconda color camera from <a href="http://www.x10.com/cameras/sc18a_s.html">X10.com</a><br />4 oz kit EnviroTex Lite from <a href="http://www.createforless.com/search/searchResults.asp?SearchAction=Restart&SearchWord=envirotex%20lite&gclid=CLvV2JCElIsCFQQXIwod7l-qSA">Create for Less</a><br />1 jar from <a href="http://www.mcmaster.com/nav/enter.asp?partnum=42905T24&pagenum=1541">McMaster Carr </a>part #<span style="font-family: arial;">4188T41</span><tt><tt><br />(When the web page loads do a search for this part number!)<br /></tt></tt>5 minute epoxy<br />side cutters<br />1 small (electronics) phillips screw driver<br />dye from <a href="http://www.eagerplastics.com/7701.htm">Eager Plastics</a> (optional)<br />and a healthy dose of patience!<br /><br />The first thing you will do is remove the housing from the camera. There are two screws on the back of the housing. One of them is under the label designating the top of the camera. Extract the screws and gently push on the focus ring to slip the camera out of the housing. Next take the side cutters and cut the plastic around the area where the wires go through. Be very careful here not to accidently cut the wires as they are quit fine and a real pain to solder! You will notice that there is a small microphone sheathed in a white foam and pressed into a hole in the housing. Grasp the wires with your fingers and pull the microphone out of the housing. If you break one of these wires it is not critical as the microphone will not operate underwater anyway. (This has to do with the way sound wavelengths propagate through water as opposed to plastic!) On the wires leading to the camera you will find a black "pass through" that provided strain relief to the camera wires. I usually leave that on the wire and pot it with the camera as it will offer us strain relief once the camera has been potted. Do you have all the housing removed from your camera? Good! Now hook your camera up to the moniter. On the pigtail where the power supply attaches you will see a sticker with red writing on it. <strong>READ THE RED WRITING!!!</strong> It tells you to plug the camera into the moniter before you hook up the power. Do it this way religiously if you want to prolong the life of your camera! Next you will focus your camera. This will vary depending on what exactly you want to do with your camera. I typically focus my camera to be able to read the fine writing on the camera box at 8 inches. You focus the camera by rotating the focus ring until the writing is crisp!<br />Once your camera is focused put a small bead of 5 minute epoxy on the side of the focus ring so it does not slip when you install it into the McMaster Carr jar. Once the epoxy has dried on the side of the focus ring take a look at the shape of the camera board. You will observe that one side of the board is flat. That is the top of the camera. When you install the camera into the jar, if you have the flat side up against the edge of the jar, it will be easy to insure that the camera is right side up and centered when you mount it. Look at the bottom of the jar. You will notice that there are three places on the bottom of the jar where you can place the lens ring where there is no obstruction. This is a good thing because it means you get three tries at gluing the camera to the bottom of the jar! If you are working in a team, you want the person with the steadiest hands to do the next part. Take a toothpick and run a bead of 5 minute epoxy around the rim of the focus ring, then gently slide the camera down the side of the jar with the flat side toward the edge of the jar until the 5 minute epoxy makes a seal on the bottom of the jar. Now you have to get zen, and sit there for at least 5 minutes until the epoxy dries. This is much easier to say than it is to do. Once the epoxy dries you will mix your EnviroTex Lite. Mix the two parts together for at least two minutes. At this point if you want to dye your camera add a couple of drops of dye from <a href="http://www.eagerplastics.com/7701.htm">Eager Plastics</a>. Pour the EnviroTex Lite over the camera slowly and fill the jar all the way up to the rim. This will actually take about three ounces of the product. Use some masking tape to center the wire on the jar and hold the little black "pass through" under the EnviroTex Lite. Let the product cure for 24 hours. If you check the camera after about four hours it will seem hardened but it is not. If you test the camera at this point it will not work as the epoxy is still too warm and not fully cured. I know it is difficult but wait the full 24 hours before you give it a trial run. Have fun with your new camera! Send me video!<br />I will post pictures of my camera tomorrow showing some of the details.<br />The only known issue with this camera is that the insulation on the camera wire is not terribly robust. The work around is to replace the existing wire with outdoor telephone wire. The pinout for the Anaconda camera is available <a href="http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Pin-out_for_Wired_Camera_Connectors">here</a>. The only thing you must remember is that this camera uses a common ground for the camera and the power supply. When I replace my camera wire, I usually also replace the pigtail with a straight video connector as the pigtail with the RJ14 plug tends to fail over time when used around water.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-16324132874257772822007-03-18T19:59:00.000-07:002007-03-18T23:27:37.687-07:00Depth x<a href="http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviationspace/15d1d7f04b5c0110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html">Popular Science </a>magazine has a great article about a new AUV that recently completed initial testing. You can view video of that bot here:<br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VxAWNh4VIRw" width="425" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed><br /><br /><p>This one Gives a better view of the bot!</p><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ALQJu201UE4" width="425" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed><br /><br /><br />For those who stumbled onto this site accidentally, an AUV is an autonomous underwater vehicle as opposed to an ROV or remotely operated vehicle. More videos are available on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxAWNh4VIRw">You Tube</a>.<br /><br />I can't look at someone else's bot without thinking about the things I see in someone else's design that I would like to incorporate into my next build! On this one I really like the sampeling device!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-2578240886189358522007-03-17T21:36:00.000-07:002007-03-18T00:57:48.557-07:00Technology and the Environment<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLeXX5Ia1ur7zKdc2zYDhSm7CHANF_MmA-f9N9hOsxPvBoogCxsfYclG6UIeZXu57LVxFsO64GBg022Kv99mxLZhlclM4_JgjbRAOTOKlSwdaKnQLWY9xgk9qm04_ZJhmICLlUz1ACyBE/s1600-h/j0402734.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043119526213583778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLeXX5Ia1ur7zKdc2zYDhSm7CHANF_MmA-f9N9hOsxPvBoogCxsfYclG6UIeZXu57LVxFsO64GBg022Kv99mxLZhlclM4_JgjbRAOTOKlSwdaKnQLWY9xgk9qm04_ZJhmICLlUz1ACyBE/s400/j0402734.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I don't like to do preachy articles, I figure we all get enough of that on any given day but if I don't do it tonight, I'm just not sure when I'll get around to it. So it seems like time to write about the environment and the responsible use of technology. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>If you are on this website I can reasonably assume that you have an interest in underwater robotics and in the ocean. But did you ever think about the impact underwater robotics may have on the ocean? It is an important question. You are on the cutting edge of ocean exploration, and the attitudes you carry with you about the ocean environment will have greater and greater impact as sub-sea technology gains more widespread use. </div><br /><div><br />More and more frequently we are turning to the ocean to replace supplies of resources we have already depleted on land, specifically water and energy. If we are not responsible in the way that we go about our efforts we may severely damage the ocean chemistry. Why you ask does that matter? The ocean is responsible for a significant amount of the oxygen we breathe. You are connected to the ocean with every breath you take regardless of where on the planet you live. There has been recent research by the folks who brought us the Genome Project that indicates that the genetics of the phytoplankton is specific to the area in which it is found. What that means is that if we change the chemistry of the ocean even in a confined location we may in fact be greatly reducing the overall diversity of species some of which are producing the air we breathe!. Who knew? The full text of the article can be found <a title="here." href="http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=17355176">here.</a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Desalinization is another area of concern. Many species of marine animals are quite sensitive to salinity levels. When we change the salinity of an area we change the types of animals that area can support. Per Wikipedia:</div><div><blockquote><p>Regardless of the method used, there is always a highly concentrated waste<br />product consisting of everything that was removed from the created "fresh<br />water". These concentrates are classified by the U.S. <a title="Environmental Protection Agency" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_Protection_Agency">Environmental<br />Protection Agency</a> as <a title="Industrial waste" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_waste">industrial wastes</a>. With<br />coastal facilities, it may be possible to return it to the sea without harm if<br />this concentrate does not exceed the normal ocean salinity gradients to which <a title="Osmoregulation" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmoregulation">osmoregulators</a> are<br />accustomed. Reverse osmosis, for instance, may remove 50% or more of the water,<br />doubling the salinity of ocean waste.<br />The hypersaline brine has the potential<br />to harm <a title="Ecosystem" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem">ecosystems</a>, especially marine<br />environments in regions with low turbidity and high evaporation that already<br />have elevated salinity. Examples of such locations are the <a title="Persian Gulf" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf">Persian<br />Gulf</a>, the <a title="Red Sea" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Sea">Red<br />Sea</a> and, in particular, <a title="Coral" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral">coral</a> <a title="Lagoon" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagoon">lagoons</a> of <a title="Atoll" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atoll">atolls</a> and other <a title="Tropics" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropics">tropical</a> islands around the<br />world. Because the brine is more dense than the surrounding sea water due to the<br />higher solute concentration, discharge into water bodies means that the<br />ecosystems on the bed of the water body are most at risk because the brine sinks<br />and remains there long enough to damage the ecosystems. Careful re-introduction<br />attempts to minimize this problem.<br />The <a title="Benthos" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benthos">benthic</a> community cannot accommodate such an extreme change and many filter-feeding animals are destroyed when the water is returned to the ocean. This presents an increasing problem further inland, where one needs to avoid ruining existing fresh water supplies such as ponds, rivers and aquifers. As such, proper disposal of "concentrate" needs to be investigated during the design phase.<br /></p></blockquote></div><div></div><br /><div>I'm not going to go on about this,I just want you to start thinking about what the impact will be of the activities you engage in, and maybe get a dialog going.<br /></div><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br /><br />_uacct = "UA-1508784-1";<br /><br />urchinTracker();<br /><br /></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-30058901794821923242007-03-15T22:29:00.000-07:002007-03-19T13:10:54.954-07:00Testing the Thrust of Your MotorsBollard testing is a useful tool both for testing the thrust of your motors and also for making comparisons between the thrust generated by different types of propellers. The rig is elegantly simple! You all know that any action produces an equal and opposite reaction right? That is Newtons law of motion. SO if you take some PVC and a piece of pipe or a broomstick you can build a device that will let you see how much thrust your motors are giving you, and swap out propellers to find out which one works best with your motor.<br /><br />The supplies you will need are a PVC cross:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042393429643899666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31p_pEAPvSjuLE-DO6LpEUO4vWRVqOR6xfsVeYVEpj4mO7a3V3RXGInk6Zz72jFJLyRt97kFHN2WzjgiANKYqYuUgGpNvoBX3CxKZGApKGDJ0Rq3sl8Wcp_nuWKXhA1xFbzaJtYgLw-I/s320/images.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>two 3 foot lengths of PVC of the size that matches the cross</p><br /><br />one 6 to 7 foot length of wooden or metal rod that will fit through the cross<br /><br /><br />you will also need a PVC tee that is the same size as the cross. You will modify the tee to use as a motor mount<br /><br />2 hose clamps to attach the motor to the motor mount, (you may only need 1)<br /><br />a drill<br /><br />a fish scale<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042405708955398962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-Ts7mAfvC2J4wZskbOFHc6StrykuKURCrLYr7b3BbbmL_FyCiWg-bh-UD4G0NhNskpaRutXGRHNRAUPwP5ZnRPEOGPsjI4Bo3uz7c8RmkL6P_5kYR7Kf6NHgc7yIt6C_f8ENGEtcQ6c/s320/spring%2520scale.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><p>a hacksaw</p><br />a vise (everyone should have at least one vise!) <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">OK</span> bad pun! bad, bad pun!<br />Cut a slice off of the long segment of the tee: (you may also need to clip one end down)<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042401388218299170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAij_4856nRSw5BEC4tEugQ50Br1vioXbKKJULxo6nW4I5fCgcwpnCg9hGxGuA2vkuUq1N0JkWawX3-BHUps1CjwqZZkeuO6BD2IZbJ7mlqMNVIquw5avF_7WVqtwxmDLJfSzPNopvKs4/s320/TEE.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><br /><br /><p>Now take your hose clamps and attach your motor to the tee, place one 3 foot section of PVC into the top of the tee and put the other end of the 3 foot section of PVC into one of the slots in the PVC cross.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043038321266918274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtd-_l7UuDz2tNlqZw1Cj5KsGbwq1aKPQPF9V70N-OylNlBnshZKk_V46M9TS6LhBaSIuG3C9dXe44W564SuPLweWYwhs13o4QHUu1fzLdKG9NUm8rOOvwPSoRW9qZU3w7EpwvIFNQwL0/s320/IMG_0310.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p>Drill a hole through the other section of PVC and put a loop of twine into it. This is where you will attach the fish scale to measure your thrust.</p><br /><br /><p>Put the other three foot section of PVC into the slot in the cross directly opposite the the one holding the first 3 foot segment. </p><br /><br /><p>Now put the broomstick or metal rod through the open holes in the PVC cross and put the motor end in the water with the propeller facing away from you.</p><br /><p>Have a person hold each end of the broomstick/metal rod and attach the fish scale to the loop that you put in the PVC or clamp the rig to the test tank if you have a smaller tank like ours.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043038312676983666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUObQYlEhSZiPT1MaW8tnVb3y_tSDMS9DWmAhwMeA-C4gvhJxHg_Et6hMkBlupxfNkEwhuWaI2M3cIbGktKOSVg8WilPg-x7XeAQFsibSsNWfOFuAt1t988bTBbYToGfEu_nB-FjMmcqM/s320/IMG_0307.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>Apply power to the motor and measure the amount of thrust you motor is giving you. </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043038325561885586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjisk3WWv9IeAq-ujtG9pj8eBFK8KZ_PC5viKCssZj6q9hslIx14ixJg9KtQD7agc5KYmkYvrrIw2Qck26duSoZ_6NnNjaO6QOSeLS9rTvTNc-RMIlty-hS6x9kLkxsZktJYZt51Fqm3E/s320/IMG_0313.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>It is important that the PVC arm holding the motor and the PVC arm the scale is attached to be the <strong>exact</strong> same length. If one is longer or shorter than the other than the data you get will be meaningless.</p><br /><br /><p>While you are doing this test,measure the amperage draw of the motor. You can do this using a multimeter. If you are in a school situation and have access to an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">oscilloscope</span> and someone who knows how to use it, that can also give you some interesting information about how well the thruster works and what the amperage spike is upon <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">start up</span> of the motor.</p><p>We recently conducted a bollard test on the 500 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">gph</span> bilge pump motors with the O<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ctura</span> propeller and the Master <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Airscrew</span> prop adaptor I talk about in <a href="http://swimmythang.blogspot.com/2007/03/how-to-build-motor-controller-assembly.html">How to Build a Motor Controller Assembly</a>. This is what we found:</p><p>The 500 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">gph</span> motors with the O<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ctura</span> prop and prop adaptor that I list in <a href="http://swimmythang.blogspot.com/2007/03/how-to-build-motor-controller-assembly.html">How to Build a Motor Controller Assembly</a> draw 3.13 amps going either in the forward or reverse directions and they generate .31 kg (.68 lb)of thrust in the forward direction and .27 kg (.59 lb)of thrust in reverse. When the motors are completely stalled they draw 5.2 amps.<br /><br /></p><p>Inexpensive meters are available at <a href="http://www.harborfreight.com/">Harbor Freight</a>:</p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042409127749366594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeToI8FN6TgU0iUo0bB5Bj6ZAErNZKGl4CxXQgt5DbBzAFMHcZYNXjObo2W7bBPfSQCdghGX9n1aMVKnC4F00sGGX2cHUB06fy9FJt8gDv4hL6gcycWSXXpFVsRAfGWZLqRQX2QuYiSzs/s320/90899.gif" border="0" />If you haven't used a meter before it can be a bit daunting but it is really not too difficult. I am going to attempt to post the tutorial from the <a href="http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/01/multimeter_tuto.html">MAKE</a> blog. </p><br /><p>How to Solder!<br /><br /><center><script src="http://blip.tv/scripts/pokkariPlayer.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><script src="http://blip.tv/syndication/write_player?skin=js&posts_id=130343&source=3&autoplay=true&amp;amp;file_type=flv&player_width=&player_height=500" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><div id="blip_movie_content_130343"><a onclick="play_blip_movie_130343(); return false;" href="http://blip.tv/file/get/Make-LearnHowToSolderSkillBuildingWorkshop125.flv"><img title="Click To Play" src="http://blip.tv/file/get/Make-LearnHowToSolderSkillBuildingWorkshop125.flv.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onclick="play_blip_movie_130343(); return false;" href="http://blip.tv/file/get/Make-LearnHowToSolderSkillBuildingWorkshop125.flv">Click To Play</a></div></center><div class="blip_description"><blockquote>In this Make: Video Podcast, Joe Grand shows us how to solder and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">de</span>-solder<br />electrical parts. </blockquote><br /></div><br /><p>Yea! It Posted right! My <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">apologies</span> to those of you who caught me over the weekend! I had the multimeter video up by mistake!</p><br /><p>Measuring amperage is a bit dicier because you have to place the meter in series with the circuit. I'm going to have to figure out how to make mp4s so I too can make <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">pod casts</span> of tips and techniques I think might be of interest to you. Telling you how to measure amperage with a meter just doesn't have quite the degree of usefulness that a little video would have. Anyhow, cheers for tonight! </p><br /><p><br />For the true geeks among you here is a little introduction to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">oscilloscopes</span> again compliments of the <a href="http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/01/multimeter_tuto.html">MAKE</a> blog. </p><br /><p>An Introduction to Oscilloscopes!<br /><br /><br /><script src="http://blip.tv/syndication/write_player?skin=js&posts_id=159426&source=3&autoplay=true&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;file_type=flv&player_width=&player_height=500" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><br /></p><br /><center><br /><div id="blip_movie_content_159426"><a onclick="play_blip_movie_159426(); return false;" href="http://blip.tv/file/get/Make-IntroductionToOscilloscopes456.flv"><img title="Click To Play" src="http://blip.tv/file/get/Make-IntroductionToOscilloscopes456.flv.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onclick="play_blip_movie_159426(); return false;" href="http://blip.tv/file/get/Make-IntroductionToOscilloscopes456.flv">Click To Play</a></div></center><br /><div class="blip_description"><br /><blockquote>In this segment with Joe Grand, we learn about oscilloscopes and their use! </blockquote><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com107tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-46172476340863689992007-03-13T17:01:00.000-07:002007-03-16T15:48:24.220-07:00A Cruel Social Experimentthat led to a great Swimmy Thang!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxtvuQqOzKPDxtMma7jMCkzJIO_ZK0fH6xOk4CpdPo-lxcxOCzMi0iCg3aNvfOTDzCK7i2HLIRgAvAmjblGuK2sVxHkdYPxkIMyCNyf_ONifJLY4GCIwGlRQjAAyqE0OyhnwLczjaZV08/s1600-h/MPC_BotMatrix.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037816575473777026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxtvuQqOzKPDxtMma7jMCkzJIO_ZK0fH6xOk4CpdPo-lxcxOCzMi0iCg3aNvfOTDzCK7i2HLIRgAvAmjblGuK2sVxHkdYPxkIMyCNyf_ONifJLY4GCIwGlRQjAAyqE0OyhnwLczjaZV08/s400/MPC_BotMatrix.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />You have embarked on an adventure that is going to be one of the most intense experiences of your lives. It is not for the faint of heart! Underwater Robotics is a multi-disciplinary effort that will demand you develop an understanding of materials, electronics, oceanography, sub sea history, seamanship, hydrodynamics, physics, chemistry, and probably a few things I've left out. In addition, you will have to master some sophisticated social skills so you will be able to work as members of a team without ending up at each others throats. That is the bad news. The good news is that you will have a part in building something very special, and that is an accomplishment you will carry with you for the rest of your life!<br />The title for this diary came from one of my first experiences in bot building. I was standing in the shop, nothing had gone right for the past week, the team seemed to be falling apart and one of my team mates turned to me and said,<br />"This is a cruel social experiment! They have taken a bunch of people from wildly different backgrounds, stuffed us all into a pressure cooker, and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">turned the</span> heat up full blast. Then they asked us to do the impossible with too little knowledge, too little money, and too little time!"<br />The bot was Bot Matrix. She <strong>won</strong> the Discovery Channel Underwater <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Battlebots</span> Competition! We pulled it together, worked non-stop until the last event, and against all odds, we won! I am still in awe of what we pulled off as a team. Now not every team will win every time, but you will grow, you will learn, and the friendships you make will last a lifetime. Keep me posted on how you all are coming along!<br />Future diaries will cover such things as how to build a simple <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">switch box</span>, things to think about when choosing frame materials, Steve's elegant process for making engineering choices, Bots in the news, as well as articles by researchers and other people who are working with underwater robots! I invite you all to comment and offer ideas on how to improve this site. Welcome!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-79488790048526887492007-03-13T16:36:00.000-07:002007-03-16T15:48:58.133-07:00Welcome!to Swimmy Thang!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDKJHMNknQfKGHs6Jccx_qFyQezPlT1eQ0yUXQEQikdTkkgiSqFHbHuM_cwjv11DugCaHAMqq2Xq-3Uyg4wQMpFoE-jtEC57I5NhddP-7pMj0PMqZVPa524Sl3AmEQozwTJlba_TpH-Xm/s1600-h/ocean3small.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037842066104678850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDKJHMNknQfKGHs6Jccx_qFyQezPlT1eQ0yUXQEQikdTkkgiSqFHbHuM_cwjv11DugCaHAMqq2Xq-3Uyg4wQMpFoE-jtEC57I5NhddP-7pMj0PMqZVPa524Sl3AmEQozwTJlba_TpH-Xm/s400/ocean3small.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><p>I welcome you all, and hope that this site can be a useful tool for swapping ideas, how <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">to's</span>, challenges, and useful information on building underwater robots.</p><p>The rules are: play nice, have fun, keep the competitive spirit in the water and the collaborative spirit on deck!</p><p>Please go to the <a href="http://www.swt5.blogspot.com/">Questions and Comments Page</a> and introduce yourselves! I'm really interested in who you are, and how you got involved in underwater robotics! I'd also be interested in hearing about what your career goals are and any other information you might care to share.</p><p>Welcome to you all!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-75741891210681768222007-03-13T16:31:00.000-07:002007-03-16T15:50:20.058-07:00How To Build Battery Pigtailsfor your Swimmy Thang<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvPK4bc7ehxlyZbBgMowI9xSeks0SvG94mMeXtrnL8Im31XSP1d9631lvaF9i5h5KoXl42YP91VgxPZT9w3rmfWPQTbI23tH0HCCvrwSSqoDFGH0_ToHZbVo6Fs-CeT8iSEcM2tLFdJC4/s1600-h/LBV1500_Angle_sm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038216793411320418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvPK4bc7ehxlyZbBgMowI9xSeks0SvG94mMeXtrnL8Im31XSP1d9631lvaF9i5h5KoXl42YP91VgxPZT9w3rmfWPQTbI23tH0HCCvrwSSqoDFGH0_ToHZbVo6Fs-CeT8iSEcM2tLFdJC4/s400/LBV1500_Angle_sm.jpg" border="0" /> <blockquote></blockquote></a>The Little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Benthic</span> Vehicle is pictured above.<br /><br /><div>Here is how to build simple pigtails for your battery so that you can have a <strong>safe</strong> connection between your motor controller assembly and the battery.<br /><br />You will need:<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><p>16 inches of black 14 gauge stranded wire<br />16 inches of red 14 gauge stranded wire<br />1 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">inline</span> fuse holder and fuse from <a href="http://www.partsamerica.com/Default.aspx"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kragen's</span></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038177030604094018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="95" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdoQSy5hR6tou94Xjud8Vgoxv6omdSiqGkMRa4F3I29YPM57GtTGmP8Bw3bfj-hUSQ09b9xtDOCLPWu1rCFFnyESTcvtS0H8zEGuns1i1utcxy5e2qo_Li1lAGNpuhRRcUXuaLeGXcoFp/s200/inlineFuseHolder.jpg" width="124" border="0" /><br />1 pair of Ring Terminals available at <a href="http://www.partsamerica.com/Default.aspx"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Kragen's</span></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038170227375897106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 107px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="118" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaf07fljif3Gfyl2mHLbsiVXHMwLWfeDkuIVfk1PEZw8WyPKiB9pr9onA5gSBrRXD6m5iCSZbazZeYU1MQIc9enfT12x3fWDUCr-lGn2K9G4I7q6qSFIV3ZuQwurxU4m2yC2wOyoe14rC1/s320/ringTerminal.jpg" width="151" border="0" /><br />1 pair of banana jacks ( <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Google</span> search for part online!)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038171953952750114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 142px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 100px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="131" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7YE5ESlMwK4aaBPX4u7L-FI6a9ttKSz8Y8hiqvfFnfKTwdjYuh0hANQqMuIDoCPYCvEI29W2bg9GUA_VA7UV8StLZDgC2GkgBz8bYwGwUkOk88PyLc_WpJ9WtHF0Z8s7fVM5CuQmLSUj/s200/BananaJack.jpg" width="156" border="0" /><br />you will also need: </p><br /><br /><p>a soldering iron<br />solder<br />heat gun<br />wire strippers<br />and heat shrink tubing</p><br /><br /><p>Cut your red wire in half. Strip 1/4 inch of insulation off of each end of your red and black wires and off the ends of the wires on your fuse holder.</p><br /><br /><p>Slide a piece of heat shrink tubing over each red wire and solder the fuse holder on to the red wire. Trim the wire with the fuse holder installed so that it is the same length as the black wire.</p><br /><br /><p>Slide two pieces of 2 inch long heat shrink tubing over each wire. (On the red wire be sure you have one on each end with the fuse holder in between!)</p><br /><br /><p>Carefully solder the ring terminals and the banana jacks to the wires. (Each wire should have one ring terminal, and one banana jack!)</p><br /><br /><p>Use the heat gun to shrink the heat shrink tubing over the solder joints where the ring terminals and the banana jacks connect to the wire.</p><br /><br /><p>If you want to waterproof these connections you can do so by putting 5 minute epoxy over the solder joints before you shrink the heat shrink tubing. ( Do not wait for the epoxy to dry before you shrink the tubing! The shrinking of the tubing forces the epoxy into all the little nooks and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">crannys</span>!)</p><br /><br /><br /><p>When you are done you should have something that looks like this:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038175368451750450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HhmEfRotnEWorO0UEQFzK_W84w1oWUW0TX01oLNL1UymMmqimC_teL9AyuQiKdb1fHWvmgzKIQlkTq4jyn12_HA7LZgLarU8utYzS3KpksptjucvjW0RhSJu3fUDKzEtXpUv8VsX9Cjk/s400/Battery_connectors.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-28088568538648978292007-03-13T16:28:00.000-07:002007-03-16T12:20:42.608-07:00How to Build a Motor Controller AssemblySo you want to build a motor controller assembly that can swim to about 50 feet deep? OK, here are the parts you will need:<br /><br />available from <a href="http://www.radioshack.com/home/index.jsp">Radio Shack</a><br /><br />1 project box 6"x4"x3" Model: 270-1806 Catalog #: 270-1806<br /><br />3 double pole double throw switches (momentary contact)<br />Model: 275-709 Catalog #: 275-709<br /><br />1 fuse holder Model: 270-1217 Catalog #: 270-1217<br /><br />1 fuse, 20 amp Model: 270-1074 Catalog #: 270-1074<br /><br />1 set bananna plugs PN# 274-721<br /><br />available from <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/pg_index.jsp?CNTTYPE=NAVIGATION&CNTKEY=pg_index.jsp&m=1161227058615">Home Depot</a><br /><br />160 feet speaker wire ( 16 gauge,2 conductor) I like the kind that has two different colors of wire but eiether will work.<br /><br />wire nuts (2)<br /><br />hose clamps<br /><br />pvc cutter<br /><br />sheet metal screws<br /><br />3 10/24 screws in brass or stainless steel<br /><br />Thruster Components<br /><br />3 Mayfair bilge pump cartridges 500gph,(you want the replacement cartridges) available at <a href="http://www.cabelas.com/spodw-1/0037804.shtml">Cabela's</a><br /><br />3 prop adapters from Master Airscrew available at <a href="http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0095P?FVSEARCH=mas+3200&FVPROFIL=++&search3=Go">Tower Hobbies</a><br /><br />3 Octura propellers from:<br /><br />Octura Models Inc 7351 Hamlin Ave Skokie, IL 60076 (847) 674-7351<br /><br />The part numbers you need are listed below:<br /><br />1250 PL (left-hand)<br /><br />1250 RPL (right-hand) Use 2 of one and 1 of the other<br /><br />If you call Octura you can order the parts. The lady I spoke with was very nice, and very helpful! You must send them a check and then they will ship out the parts. It sounds cumbersome but I got my parts in under a week.<br /><br />Other items you will need include:<br /><br />5 minute epoxy<br /><br /><br />solder<br /><br /><br />electrical tape<br /><br /><br />heat shrink tubing<br /><br /><br />wire nuts<br /><br /><br />Locktite (red)<br /><br /><br />You will also need some tools,and a healthy dose of patience if this is the first time you've tried to do something like this! The next installment will cover tools, tool safety, and if time and space allow, we will start to build.<br /><br /><br />For those who want a camera assembly to take underwater video for under $50.00, stay tuned. That will be the next big project! Have fun! The best part of building anything is that you get to work with tools and materials. The most important thing to consider when working with a tool that you are not familiar with is to read the owners manual! Tools are wonderful things but if you are careless with them or uninformed about how to operate them correctly, they will bite you in the butt. If you start a project with ten fingers and two eyes try to finish with the same number. It is considered unprofessional to have any fewer body parts when you complete the project than you did when you started it!. (It is also considered unprofessional to leave the project unfinished.)<br /><br /><br />Tool safety is paramount. Get a good pair of safety glasses and use them to protect your eyes. Don't get in the habit of moving them onto your forehead when you take a break, as it is too easy to not put them back over your eyes when you start back up. Don't use a tool that is broken or that has a power cord that is frayed. If you are uncertain how to use a tool, Ask! No one was really born knowing how to use tools I don't care what the old timers tell you. As for materials, certain types of woods, glues, solvents and epoxies are toxic under certain conditions or are highly flamable. Take the time to read the user information on the packages. If the instructions say to use a mask, use a mask even if it makes you look like a large bug. You will be glad you did. Don't eat while your'e working. That sounds kind of nit-pickey but if you are working with solvents or toxic materials and get some on your hands or in your food or beverage it can ruin a perfectly good day.<br /><br /><br />The tools I use to build a bot are:<br /><br /><br />A soldering iron ( I use a Weller butane iron but corded ones are nice too!)<br /><br /><br />a PVC cutter (You don't really need a slide compound miter saw to cut PVC but if you have access to one, go for it. I personally have never met a power tool I didn't like!)<br /><br /><br />a hacksaw<br /><br /><br />a drill/driver (Again, you don't really need a drill press, but if you need an excuse to buy one...)<br /><br /><br />a set of phillips and flathead screwdrivers<br /><br /><br />a set of electronics screwdrivers<br /><br /><br />a heat gun<br /><br /><br />a set of drillbits<br /><br /><br />Wire cutters also known as side cutters or dykes<br /><br /><br />wire strippers<br /><br /><br />a flush cutter<br /><br /><br />A vise and/or clamps<br /><br /><br />a tapemeasure<br /><br /><br />a ruler<br /><br /><br />a combination square<br /><br /><br />a centerfinding ruler (OK you don't really need one of these, but I use mine a lot!)<br /><br />Did I mention SAFETY GLASSES?<br /><br /><br />Go shopping! Have fun! While you're at the store I'll try to figure out what exactly I want you to do next.<br /><br />We are going to get parts ready to work with today. Cut your speaker wire using your side cutters into:<br /><br /><br />3- 50 foot lengths<br /><br /><br />1- 8 foot length<br /><br /><br />Cut the remaining 2 feet into 4 inch lengths, and seperate the wires into seperate conductors.<br /><br /><br />You will use the short pieces to wire the switches.<br /><br />Take the switches out of their plastic bags and take a close look at them. You will observe that they have 6 metal pins on the bottom and a toggle on top. The base of the toggle is threaded and there is a washer a nut, and a knurled ring that thread off.<br /><br /><br /><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q126/dangangry/dpdtswitch.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />If you are looking straight down at the bottom of the switch, you can look at the following wiring diagram and see where the wires will go. <strong>A, B, and C</strong> are on the <strong>left</strong> side of the diagram going <strong>top to bottom</strong>, and <strong>D, E, and F</strong> go from <strong>top to bottom</strong> on the <strong>right.</strong><br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q126/dangangry/dpdtwiringdiagram.gif" border="0" /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6112/469994676045162/1600/dpdt%20wiring%20diagram.gif"></a>A,B,C,D,E,and F are the pins. Vs and Vo are battery positive and battery negative.<br /><br /><br />Don't worry too much about that part now. When we start wiring and soldering, I will be building right along with you and will post photos as we go along. <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6112/469994676045162/1600/dpdt%20switch.jpg"></a>Lets move on to wiring the switch.<br /><br />Solder 4 in. wires at B, C, E, and F. I will try to find a better diagram but in the meantime, <strong>A, B, and C</strong> are on the<strong> left</strong> side of the diagram going top to bottom, and <strong>D, E, and F</strong> go from top to bottom on the <strong>right.</strong> B and E will be the power and ground wires. If you got the speaker wire with different colored conductors then at pins B and E, <strong>use one color for all the B's, and the other for all the E's.</strong> This will make your life easier down the road.<br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q126/dangangry/dpdtwiringdiagram1.gif" border="0" /><br />Thread the three 50 foot motor wires that you cut from your speaker wire through the hole in the end of your project box.<br />What! There is no hole??? Take a drill with a spade bit of the appropriate size and make one! Do be careful to clamp your work so you drill the box, not the table, yourself or the friend who is helping you. And pleeeeeze wear safety glasses!<br />Put the hole in your project box on one end as shown below in red.<br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q126/dangangry/project_box1.jpg" border="0" /><br />Seperate the ends of the conductors and strip the ends of them back about 1/4 inch. Twist one motor wire and the wire coming from C together and insert them in the hole in pin D.<br />Solder the wires in place.<br />Twist the 4 in. wire coming from F with the other motor wire an insert them into the hole in pin A. Solder these wires in place too. You will connect the power and ground wires after the switches have been installed in the project box. Do all three of your switches like this.<br />I like to solder everything on the switches before I install them in the top of the project box as I hate trying to solder in close quarters.<br /><br /><br />If you are new at soldering, a text soldering tutorial is available at: <a href="http://www.apogeekits.com/electronic_tutorials.htm">http://www.apogeekits.com/electronic_tutorials.htm</a> </p><p>and below is a great little soldering tutorial video compliments of the MAKE blog. </p><p><br /><center><script src="http://blip.tv/scripts/pokkariPlayer.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><script src="http://blip.tv/syndication/write_player?skin=js&posts_id=130343&source=3&autoplay=true&amp;file_type=flv&player_width=&player_height=500" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><div id="blip_movie_content_130343"><a onclick="play_blip_movie_130343(); return false;" href="http://blip.tv/file/get/Make-LearnHowToSolderSkillBuildingWorkshop125.flv"><img title="Click To Play" src="http://blip.tv/file/get/Make-LearnHowToSolderSkillBuildingWorkshop125.flv.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onclick="play_blip_movie_130343(); return false;" href="http://blip.tv/file/get/Make-LearnHowToSolderSkillBuildingWorkshop125.flv">Click To Play</a></div></center><div class="blip_description"><blockquote>In this Make: Video Podcast, Joe Grand shows us how to solder and de-solder electrical parts.<br /></blockquote></div><p></p><br /><br /><br />Next drill holes in your project box. Size your drill bit to match the size of the threaded shaft on the switch. The switch shown here is slightly different than the one you'll be using but the threaded part shows up better.<br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q126/dangangry/dpdt3.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />Place the holes in your project box as shown below in red.<br />Remove the knurled ring and the nut from the threaded shaft of the switches and install them into the project box.<br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q126/dangangry/project_box2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />Whew! You're almost done! At this point feed your power and ground wire into the hole in the box you made for your motor wires. Seperate the conductors about 5 inches and strip the ends of each. The copper colored conductor (wire) will be battery positive, and the silver conductor (wire) will be ground.<br /><br />Look at the bottom of the project box cover where you have installed your switches. There should be two wires coming from each switch that haven't been connected to anything yet. Take the wire on the right from each switch and gather them together with the copper power wire. Twist all four wires together and install a wire nut. Now do the same thing with the wires on the left hand side of each switch and the silver ground wire.<br />Take your Mayfair bilge pump cartridges and remove the impellers.<br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q126/dangangry/mayfairbilgepumpcartridge.jpg" border="0" />The impeller is the flat white disc with fins on it at the bottom of the pump. Gently pry the impeller off of the motor shaft. Be careful when you do this so that you don't bend the motor shaft. If you can't get the job done with your fingers, use a flathead screwdriver and gently work all around the disc until it lifts off.<br /><br />Once the impeller is off take a close look at the motor shaft. It has a little flat spot on it. When you put the prop adaptor on, the set screw will line up with the flat on the motor shaft and keep the propeller from "freewheeling". <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6112/469994676045162/1600/mayfair%20bilge%20pump%20cartridge.jpg"></a><br /><br />Take the prop adaptor out of its bag and put it in a bowl or shallow dish. It has a small set screw and an allen wrench that have been known to mysteriously dissapear if they aren't watched carefully. Keeping then contained in a bowl or something is a good idea.<br />This is the prop adaptor:<br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q126/dangangry/propadaptor.jpg" border="0" /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6112/469994676045162/1600/prop%20adaptor.jpg"></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850196386161973216.post-69896661551658482762007-03-10T15:07:00.000-08:002007-03-14T00:57:03.758-07:00The Bot and The Whale!a really cool Swimmy thang!I found this cool video about a whale exploring a work class ROV! It seems that a day in the life of an ROV pilot can get pretty interesting sometimes. I wonder whose bot it was and if it got damaged during the encounter. Another thing I noticed was how big the ROV must have been since the whale looked pretty small vis a vis the manipulator arm. It must have been an interesting day for these guys!<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ja05wjzHnew" width="425" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://swimmythang.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a></div>The Tool Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065696189410567461noreply@blogger.com0