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2007 ROV Mid-Atlantic
Regional Competition
By Peter Leighton
 | | ROV Competition at Langley Air Force Base (Photo: David Alberg/NOAA) |
On Saturday April 21, 2007, NOAA's Monitor National Marine Sanctuary and Nauticus hosted the 2nd annual Mid-Atlantic Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) competition at the Langley Air Force Base (LAFB) in Hampton, Virginia. Nine high school teams from Delaware, North Carolina and Virginia competed. Each team was tasked with building an ROV designed to complete specific underwater challenges developed by the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center based in Monterey, California.
 | | Thomas Jefferson High's ROV working on a water mission. (Photo: David Alberg/NOAA) |
Mission tasks for 2007 simulated real world scenarios related to the International Polar Year. Water trials ranged from threading a messenger line through an anchor at the bottom of the pool, to recovering an algae sample from under an ice sheet. Each team spent several months designing, building and of course waterproofing their robots to complete these missions. In addition to being judged how their ROV's performed in the pool, teams were scored on evaluations from a panel of engineering professionals and completed a poster display to showcase their project.
 | | Cape Henlopen team preparing for their water mission.(Photo: David Alberg/NOAA) |
The Mid-Atlantic Regional has more than tripled in size since last year, with over 150 students, teachers, mentors, volunteers and spectators in attendance at the event. Volunteers from Nauticus, LAFB, NOAA, Old Dominion University, Northrop Grumman Newport News, Hampton Roads Naval Museum, the University of North Carolina Coastal Studies Institute and many other organizations judged water missions, conducted engineering reviews, reviewed poster displays and assisted with many other facets of the competition.
 | | Mid-Atlantic ROV Regional Winners Cape Henlopen High.(Photo: David Alberg/NOAA) |
The high school student teams impressed the volunteers and judges with their team work, innovation, creativity, knowledge and spirit throughout the day. This year's winning team is Cape Henlopen High School from Lewes, Delaware, who will be advancing on to the MATE International ROV Competition taking place in St. Johns, Newfoundland Canada June 22-24, 2007. Cape Henlopen was one of the returning schools from the 2006 regional where they received the “duct tape” award and placed last in the competition.
 | | 2007 Mid-Atlantic ROV Competition participants. (Photo: David Alberg/NOAA) |
The Mid-Atlantic ROV Building Competition is jointly coordinated by NOAA's Monitor National Marine Sanctuary and Nauticus. If you know of any middle or high school teachers that may be interested in learning more about building ROVs and participating in the competition, please pass on the contact information listed below. NOAA and Nauticus offer ROV workshops throughout the year for teachers and students where they can learn more about the program. For more information, please contact us.
Shannon Ricles, NOAA's Monitor National Marine Sanctuary
Shannon.Ricles@noaa.gov or 757.591.7328
Christine Arrasate, Nauticus
Christine.Arrasate@norfolk.gov or 757.664.1019
Peter Leighton, Nauticus
peter.leighton@norfolk.gov or 757.664.1015
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