The SEAPerch ROV RULES

This section provides the rules and requirements for the construction of your SEAPerch. The SEAPerch is a small, tethered, underwater vehicle with multiple thrusters to control lift and direction.

Size Requirements

  1. The SEAPerch must fit, front-to-back, through a 24” diameter hoop and may be no longer than 20”.

Body Requirements

  1. The body design may be changed from the tutorial design, but it must follow the constraints for size and allowable materials.
  2. The body may be glued together for rigidity, or it may be press-fit for adjustability.
  3. If any part of the body becomes unattached during a round, the ROV will be disqualified for that round. Once it is repaired it will have to be re-inspected before it is allowed to continue. 
    1. Note that this does not apply to propellers, see below.
  4. A dull hook or other weight-holding device may be attached to the ROV for any and all games as long as it does not exceed the size requirements.
  5. No tape is allowed on the ROV except for what is explicitly called for in the instruction manual for electrical insulation purposes. 
    1. Tape may be used for non-functional, decorative purposes.  Inspector’s discretion is allowed.

Thruster Requirements

  1. A thruster consists of a correctly insulated motor, a shaft extension, and a secured propeller.
  2. An insulated motor consists of a taped-wrapped motor with wires correctly soldered to it, sealed and capped in a plastic canister with wax or another waterproofing substance.
  3. Only the parts listed in the kit of parts may be used for thrusters.
  4. No changes can be made to the propeller or the motor.
  5. If a propeller becomes unattached or lost during a round, the ROV is permitted to continue in the current round without any point deductions, but must it be repaired before the next round.
  6. It is recommended that teams have several spare thrusters, propellers and other parts to perform common repairs.

Electrical Requirements

  1. ONLY one 4-pair tether (Ethernet) cable may be used.
  2. Each pair of wires on the tether may power ONLY one motor
  3. Only the battery type listed in the kit of parts is allowed.
  4. Each team is allowed the use of only one battery per round.
  5. Multiple teams may not use a single battery concurrently.
  6. Additional batteries and chargers may be purchased and used.
  7. The control box supply wires must be insulated and must use an external inline 10A slow-blow fuse (as included in the kit of parts) on the positive wire.
  8. The control box voltage supply wires may not be permanently attached to the battery, they must use an insulated secure connector that can be easily disconnected. Insulated alligator clips are recommended.
  9. Control boxes must be able to be opened during inspection (do not for example, glue it closed).
  10. Only one electrical connection per pole on each switch is allowed.
  11. Switches other than those listed in the kit of parts may be used in the control box but they must meet or exceed the safety rating of the switches in the KOP. Inspector’s discretion allowed.
  12. The battery must be contained in a dry container/holder so that it does not rest directly on the concrete or wet pool deck. The plastic SEAPerch crate is allowed.
  13. All electrical connections that go in the water must be insulated with Butyl rubber, hot melt glue, or wax.

Disqualifications

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