|
 |
| Photo: West Hawaii Explorations Academy
(WHEA) Middle School's Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) at
the recent Big Island ROV Regional competition at Kona
Aquatics Center. |
The ROV competition this year simulated three tasks for the
deployment of an ocean observing system that would be part of
an ocean observatory. Such observatories help scientists better
understand the ocean climate and environment and make better
predictions about potential changes to our environment. In addition
to the underwater robotics challenge, students submitted technical
reports, created poster displays, and took part in engineering
evaluation interviews.
The students had to maneuver their underwater ROVs to release
a "transponder" which consisted of a buoyant device (essentially
a bottle of air) attached to a stand with a metal pin with an
eye in it. The object was to pull the pin so that the transponder
floated to the surface. The second task was to transport an
electronic module (a plexi-glass rectangular box) and put it
in a housing (an inverted rectangular plexi-glass box). Only
the Konawaena team succeeded in that task, although all teams
spent most of their time trying. The third task was to open
a door on the housing and connect a "cable" which was effectively
a PVC pipe with a piece of Velcro. No team connected the cable
but a few managed to pick it up.
The Keck Observatory judges consisted of two mechanical engineers:
Jim Bell and Drew Medeiros; two electronic engineers: Tom Nordin
and Ed Wetherell; two software engineers: Al Honey and Jimmy
Johnson; one astronomer: Jim Lyke; and one AO Systems Engineer:
Rodger Sumner.
Keck's involvement was initiated mainly through Larry Rice,
a science teacher at Kealakehe High School. Larry has brought
students to the Keck Observatory on several occasions during
the past few years, including an annual visit to the telescopes
on the summit. Larry knew that Al Honey at Keck had been helping
local robotics teams for the past four years, so he approached
Al to help out with the first Big Island ROV Regional competition.
Al, Jim, Ed, and Drew agreed to attend a training session that
Larry organized for all the participating schools, in January
2006, conducted by a representative from MATE. During their
training session the teams of teachers and engineers constructed
and tested prototype ROVs.
When asked to evaluate the success of this year's competition,
Al Honey shared the following thoughts:
"Based on my experience working with school
engineering teams, I find that typically the students quickly
learn to be a team and natural leaders emerge. The students
quickly realize the aspects of a project that inspire them
and seem to naturally take on associated responsibilities.
The students find that they have to learn new skills (accurately
cutting and drilling holes, soldering, electronics, computer
aided design tools, presentation tools such as Powerpoint)
and that excites them. I have seen many students decide on
engineering careers simply from the excitement, fun, challenges,
and pursuit of knowledge they have encountered while involved
in an engineering project, especially when they realize that
the 'real' world functions in much the same way. During discussions
with mentors I have heard students say 'We should learn this!'
or 'We should write this down!' or 'I got it!' then run off
to their tasks with excitement.
All of us judges had a great time and I am sure that all of
us will participate in the future."
Keck judge Jim Bell shared these highlights:
"The middle schools in particular showed great
enthusiasm and energy, and it certainly seemed like the teams
enjoyed themselves and had a lot of fun. After the judging
we were treated to a wonderful Hawaiian chant and later Hawai'i
Pono'i by two of the teams.
Another outstanding part of this year's competition was the
'chief engineer' Keao Roseguo from Nawahiokalani'opu'u Hawaiian
Immersion School. Keao led the technical efforts of his team
in a very professional manner. He told us his ambition was
to become an astrophysicist/astronomer and so we invited him
to visit Keck Headquarters, to meet some of our scientists.
He and his brother visited us on Friday, May 12. It went very
well as there was high humidity on the summit, so we couldn't
open the telescope shutters. This allowed these two boys to
spend over an hour with our Keck II astronomers -- talking
about extrasolar planets, brown dwarfs, blackholes, telescopes,
research plans, and education. The two astronomers, Matt Malkan
and Jonghak Woo, told Kaeo that they both knew they wanted
to be astronomers when they were just 7-8 years old. Kaeo
told us that he knew when he was 10. His brother Kaiapuni
wants to be an engineer. We spent time looking at designs
I've done and using my 3D CAD software to make new designs.
Talented kids!"
For more information and photos, visit this year's BIRR competition web page.
Click here to return to the main page. |
