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How to Build an Underwater Rover Kit

Help science students explore the depths of a fresh water pool by building your own underwater rover kit. By putting together all the components necessary for a remote controlled underwater robot, students learn the basics of engineering and robotics, according to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A kit would include all the parts necessary for the project allowing students to focus on the assembly only. Choose PVC pipes for an easy to build and waterproof frame and add the necessary electrical parts for the motor.

Things You'll Need

1/2 by 120 inch plain end schedule 40 PVC pipe
Hack saw
10 1/2 inch 1/2 inch slip 90 degree elbow schedule 40 PVC pipe
10 1/2 inch 1/2 inch tee schedule 40 PVC pipe
2 1 1/2 inch by 16 inch plain end schedule 40 PVC pipe
4 1 1/2 inch end caps
4 14 inch plastic tie wraps
Emergency jump start
2 DPDT switches
3 4 inch stranded 22 gauge wire red, both ends stripped 1/2-inch
3 4 inch stranded 22 gauge wire green, both ends stripped 1/2-inch
1 4 inch stranded 22 gauge wire black, both ends stripped 1/2-inch
25 foot rolls red wire
25 foot rolls green wire
25 foot rolls black wire
18 spade connectors
6 4 inch plastic cable ties
16 ounce clear plastic jar with a lid
1 1/2 inch male adapter PVC pipe
Rigid 1/2 inch conduit locknut
3 bilge pump cartridges
3 1/4 inch direct drive prop adapters
3 small propellers
100 foot 18 gauge speaker wire
Rubber tape
Electrical tape
3/8 inch shrink tube
3 powerline 1 1/2-inch conduit clamps
100 4 inch plastic tie wraps
6 1 1/4 inch machine screws with nuts and washers

Instructions

- 1
  Cut a 1/2 inch by 10 foot piece plain end schedule 40 PVC pipe into 20 6 inch pieces using a hack saw. Then cut one of the 6 inch pieces in two. Place these frame parts into a medium sized box for the kit. Add 10 1/2 inch 1/2 inch slip 90 degree elbow schedule 40 PVC pipe and 10 1/2-inch 1/2-inch tee schedule 40 PVC pipe to the kit.
- 2
  Place two 1 1/2 inch by 16 inch plain end schedule 40 PVC pipe into the box for the frame's buoyancy. Add four 1 1/2 inch end caps and 4 14 inch plastic tie wraps to finish the rover's frame. Put an inexpensive emergency jump start into the kit to power the rover's at 12 DC.
- 3
  Put two DPDT switches into the kit so you can turn the rover's different thrusters on and off. Add 3 4 inch stranded 22 gauge wire red, 3 4 inch stranded 22 gauge wire green, 1 4 inch stranded 22 gauge wire black for the wiring. Place 25 foot rolls of red, green and black wire into the box.
- 4
  Add 18 spade connectors for the posts of the switches. Place six 4 inch plastic cable ties into the kit to hold the connectors onto the switches. Put a 16 ounce clear plastic jar with a lid into the box for the controller box. Include a 1 1/2 inch male adapter PVC pipe and a rigid 1/2 inch conduit locknut for the controller box
- 5
  Place three bilge pump cartridges into the box for the rover's thrusters. Add three 1/4 inch direct drive prop adapters into the box and include three small propellers that fit onto the direct drive prop adapters. Put 100 foot 18 gauge speaker wire into the kit as the tether wire.
- 6
  Put rubber tape, electrical and a 3/8 inch shrink tube into the rover kit. Add 3 powerline 1 1/2 inch conduit clamps, 100 4 inch plastic tie wraps and 6 1 1/4 inch machine screws with nuts and washers for the rest of the motor assembly.

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