Well I thought it did, and anyone who knows me knows that when it comes to ROV’s I can get ridiculously excited and completely rapped up in one. Anyway ROV stands for remotely operated vehicle (right, I already said that) and while they may all be commonly referred to as ROVs, they can be constructed for many specific applications. Luckily though, no matter your specific use for one, there are a wide variety of kits that can be purchased online from any number of vendors with varying prices.

The ROVs we’re constructing on the ship are from the kit, ROV-in-a-Box, Underwater Robot Project Kit (featured in the teaser photo) by Karen Suhm. Although we’re provided with a kit and manual, based upon prior knowledge and experience we decided to make some minor structural modifications that were deemed necessary in order to reinforce the frame. These ROV activities are great for classroom and group use, as well as to teach the teachers and other participating people on board about the construction of an ROV and some practical applications for one.  These activities also open the field for discussions about the Alvin, its uses and its place in scientific ocean drilling.

To go along with the group activities, Beth Orcutt, Geoff, Samuel and I will be working on instructional videos about the different steps and modifications that can be made when constructing your own ROV. Hopefully the videos will come out great and will be be used in a classroom setting and possibly with Geoff’s’ RETINA program.