pic: 269's Underwater Robot

[AndyB]

Yeah, it costs around $50 to make, (after getting the camera for free), the camera is normally around $50 itself. Obviously, information cant pass through water, so it uses a 30 foot tether. It's powered using a normal 12v battery.

We made it after attending a seminar run by the Discovery World in Milwaukee, WI. This robot, unlike FRC robots, did come with instructions. Since we used pvc, it bouyant and so we used lead weights to keep it as close to nuetrally bouyant as possible. It works pretty well.

We kept the motors in film containers, and waterproofed the wire connections by melting wax on the holes in the containers. It uses 3 motors, 2 of which are angled to allow it to go fowards, backwards, left, and right, and then a motor to control the up and down motion.

So far we have taken it out twice on a clear lake here in Wisconsin, and it hasn't failed us. Rather the TV we were using to record it failed the first time, and then a laptop the second time. Who knows, it may stay warm enough that we can get out one more time before it freezes over