Week 13

            I really liked the TED videos this week, especially the toaster one. We really take for granted all the things that are provided for us. I heard a comedian make fun of this idea before, “People think they are smart. But if I were to leave you in the woods, how long would it be before you could give me a phone call.”

            In the lab this week, Dana and I got very close to finishing our ROV. We have our sensors built, the frame built, and the control box completed. Really all we need to do now is fix the buoyancy of our ROV. It sits pretty awkward in the water, so there is some work to be done there. Our control box is very compact, and contains all the batteries needed by the ROV (AA batteries for the motors, C battery for the hydrophone, 9 volt for the speaker). The speaker for the hydrophone is mounted on the control box, so the pilot should be able to hear it. Dana’s recorder will also be located in the control box. In contrast my sensor will be fully contained on the ROV with no connection to the surface.

            If all goes well, we will be done next week. This is good timing because I will have to leave early on Thursday for the marine science recognition reception at 4:00pm.