This week students began construction on their ROVs. This is the third year of this project and only the second year it has been implemented with the AP Physics classes. This year student ROV groups will be measured on the following tasks:
- 3-Dimensional Obstacle Slalom: A slalom course is set up with gates at varying depths. Teams must navigate their ROV by using the monitor only. Challenge is timed.
- "T-infection" removal: “Infected T’s” will be mixed in among “healthy T’s.” Teams must navigate their ROV to the “cell” where the healthy and unhealthy T’s reside and remove the unhealthy T’s to a quarantine area while leaving the healthy T’s inside their cell. Score is based upon number of unhealthy T’s successfully moved to the quarantine area and time. Penalties will be assessed for healthy T’s that are removed from the cell. Drivers may only use the monitor when operating the ROV.
- Shuttle Read Run: This is a flat out speed test. ROVs will be timed to see how fast they can be driven straight down a course, read the message on a target, and return.
The first task in constructing the ROVs was applying knowledge of circuits to the wiring of DPDT switches to multiple motors and a single power supply. Students then set to work on designing their ROVs to perform the tasks. This year, groups are being allowed to make minor adjustments to their ROV between events. Here are some pics of student progress.
