Section 400: Tuesday/Thursday 8:30AM-10:00AM 1500 EECS

A WHOLE SYSTEM, UNDERWATER VEHICLE DESIGN
Laura Alford / Susan Charnley

This course introduces students to practical marine-system engineering processes through the design, building, testing and operation of simple underwater exploration vehicles. It should be of interest to those considering careers in ship and yacht design, as well as all who are fascinated by explorations of the undersea world through both manned and unmanned submersibles. Topics include:  3D modeling pressure and buoyancy, propeller theory, propeller-engin matching, ship resistance, basic electric circuits, literature surveys, and systems design.

As part of the Design-Build-Test process, students will design and build a bathysphere, an unpowered near-neutrally buoyant aquatic observing station, and a remote operate remote operated underwater vehicle (ROV), a powered vehicle for underwater exploration. They will be exposed to multiple disciplines in both engineering and the sciences including Marine, Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, and Materials Engineering, Physical Oceanography, and Physics of Fluids. The class involves hands-on experiences covering nearly all aspects of a real mission including concept proposal, design fabrication, test, operations, analysis, documentation, and presentation of results. There will be individual training on fundamental diagnostic instruments, sensors, and computers tools. Specific experiments use multi-meters, power supplies, temperature and pressure sensors, data acquisition programs, soldering irons, and remotely controlled components.

This section emphasizes development of individual hands-on skills, oral and written communication skills and working effectively in a team environment. Students will acquire/improve their skill in using a word processing program (MS Office/OpenOffice/LaTeX), a spreadsheet program  (MS Office/OpenOffice), computer programming (MATLAB/C/C++), 3D modeling (Rhino3D), and writing professional emails, memos, and presentations. Please note that this is an intensive course involving a laboratory and a minimum of 6 contact hours per week.

There will be two Saturday events or "competitions" where students display their marine vehicles. The first event will be in early February. The second event will be in early April where the vehicles will compete in the West Hall tow tank. Both events will include oral presentations followed by team competitions. Any student registering for this class MUST participate in these two competitions.

Satisfies the Multidisciplinary Design Minor's Introductory Design-Build-Test requirement.