Labs

General Information about the MIT Ocean Engineering Teaching Laboratory (OETL) (PDF)

Part 1

In Labs 1-6, students construct and test a SeaPerch II Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV).

  • SeaPerch: The Sea Grant SeaPerch site contains general information on how to build the smaller unit with links to other helpful information.
  • SeaPerch II: SeaPerch II is a slightly more advanced design than the SeaPerch I. This is the one we will be designing in class; its instructions are modifications to the SeaPerch I.

 

Testing at the MIT Boat House (Charles River)

 

Student on a boat dock, holding a laptop computer. Student connecting two cables together. Three small video screens cabled to the ROV. Moving the ROV to the edge of the dock. Two students with backpacks. The ROV and tether are loaded onto a wheeled cart.

Part 2

Labs 7-14 are devoted to the final project, in which students design and build an ROV outfitted with the necessary instrumentation to map and investigate a simulated hydrothermal vent field in a pool. This project will give students a chance to collect data about the field from the sensors they build themselves. After the pool trials, students will venture to WHOI to "field test" our ROV.

Description of Final Project (PDF)

Final Project Test, near Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Video of Final Project Test (MOV - 34.4MB)

Two students working on electrical cables. Two students standing on a dock. Smiling student with depthfinder device. Video monitors under a shade umbrella. Two students lifting the ROV at the dock's edge. Students lower the ROV to the water. Working on the electronics case on top of the ROV. Photo of ROV underwater. People gathered around the video monitors. Another photo of ROV underwater. Applying a sealant to cable port on the electronics case. Another photo of ROV underwater, beginning descent. Another photo of ROV underwater. Several people gathered around the monitors and laptop. A student lying down on the sunny dock. A little visual joke. Three people laughing. On the dock, two people work on the ROV. Three people. Child sitting on the dock. Many people eating lunch at a picnic table. A tiny crab. Several people gathered around the monitors and laptop. Several people laughing at the monitors and laptop. Two smiling students. Professor Alexandra Techet examines the data and takes the SuperSeaPerch for a ride. Thanks to her fora fantastic course this spring, and a sweet field trip! Group photo of everyone.