SeaPerch is a collaborative effort between the Office of Naval Research and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. The SeaPerch Program, designed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, teaches underwater robotics to middle and high school students through the hands-on activity of building their own robots.
SeaPerch provides students with the opportunity to learn about robotics, engineering, science, and mathematics while building an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) as part of a science and engineering curriculum. Throughout the project, students learn engineering concepts, problem-solving techniques, teamwork and technical applications, all culminating in an end-of-the-term design competition. This program teaches students how to build an underwater robot, build a propulsion system, develop a controller and investigate weight and buoyancy.
With a marine engineering theme, this project teaches basic skills in ship and submarine design and encourages students to explore naval architecture and marine and ocean engineering concepts independently. The curriculum also includes discussion of potential careers in the STEM field, as well as other related fields of study.
The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers has received a grant from the Office of Naval Research to coordinate and manage the SeaPerch project. Initially, the project is focused in the Washington, D.C., metro area, with the goal of expanding into a national program within the next five years.