• SEAPERCH II
    IS HERE!

SEAPERCH 101

SeaPerch is an underwater robotics program that started at MIT Sea Grant in 2003 and continues today through RoboNation (seaperch.org). SeaPerch trains teachers and students to build and navigate their own remotely operated vehicles, or ROVs.

Now, MIT Sea Grant is introducing new SeaPerch II modules!

MODULE 1

Robot Whisker Sensor

Whiskers are sensitive sensory tools some animals use to sense their environment and navigate through narrow spaces.

Make your own whisker sensors for your underwater robot with electrical resistive components, responsive lights, and more!

A graphic illustration of a whisker sensor with wiring and cast silicone

SCIENCE NOTES

Sci/Tech Notes by Topic

Modules include Science/Tech Notes:

  • Making rubber with two-part silicone
  • How the silicone stretch sensor works
  • Biomimicry – robot whiskers
  • Cleaning up data with a software filter

MODULE 2

Pressure (Depth) + Temperature Sensor

This sensor can track pressure, depth, and temperature. Find out if your ROV is too high in the water, too low, or just right by lighting LEDs.

Navigate at a specific depth or measure temperature at different levels.

FUTURE MODULES

AUTONOMY (ARDUINO CONTROL)
INFRARED DISTANCE SENSOR
INTEGRATED UNDERWATER CAMERA
LAND-WATER COMMUNICATION
MOTOR WATERPROOFING
SOFT ROBOTICS (GRIPPER)

CONTRIBUTORS

Drew Bennett
MIT Sea Grant Education Administrator

Diane Brancazio
MIT Edgerton Center Instructor

Ansel Garcia-Langley
MIT Dept of Mechanical Engineering ’24

Alex Li and Leo Wang
Student Interns

Melissa Wen
Artist – SeaPerch illustration (top of page)
IG: @poqu_a_doodle

CONTACT US

DR. ANDREW BENNETT

Education Administrator

617-253-3402
abennett@mit.edu