SeaPerch Marine Robotics Challenge 2018

Students around the world are busy preparing for the 2018 International SeaPerch Challenge in N. Dartmouth Massachusetts in early June.  Teams start with the stock SeaPerch kit to create an underwater remotely operated vehicle.  Members then have to learn how to make their ROV more simple, streamlined and maneuverable by improving their understanding of drag, buoyancy and thrust.  Regional competitions are usually held in Feb-Apr (click here for the full schedule) and winners continue to work hard to make their vehicles even faster by June so their ROV can complete underwater tasks faster than their competitors’.

For more details, go to the 2018 SeaPerch Challenge page

Bait Ball video at MTANSW Conference

[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]We presented this video to members of the Marine Teachers Association of NSW at their annual conference in Narooma last Friday. We are pretty sure they are juvenile convict goby (Pholidichthys leucotaenia).

Teachers said a bait ball configuration is an excellent defence mechanism for small fish. It allows them to look like a much larger creature or object, and makes it harder for predators to target individuals to eat.[/cs_text][x_video_embed no_container=”false” type=”16:9″]

Bait Ball Ballet from underseaROV on Vimeo.

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Wrasse in Pittwater NSW

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Cleaner Wrasse Fish from underseaROV on Vimeo.

[/x_video_embed][cs_text]Small cleaner wrasse hanging around a wharf in Pittwater. Video taken with stock BlueROV2 using HD USB low-light camera in bright sunlight (no lights).[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]