This week’s module was big milestone; today we finally started assembling the main body of Pegasus. After spending so much time solvent-welding acrylic and soldering connections, the team and I were really excited to secure the main body, battery tubes, and camera chassis to the outer frame of the ROV. The Edwards Lab was able to purchase an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)/depth sensor combo. This tiny sensor, about the size of a standard Lego™ brick, contains a gyroscope, accelerometer and a depth sensor so we can get real-time measurements of Pegasus’s pitch, roll and depth underwater. All of this meant that we had another tricky set of connections to solder. But, as always, the team members of Project Pegasus rose to the occasion. Here’s what Aaron has to say: “Up until today, the ROV was just a bunch of parts and pieces laying. I could feel the energy in the team once every component was set in place to make the ROV look like an actual ROV! The team completed steps 27 and step 5 on the IMU depth sensor and module. We each had a turn at connecting the IMU which was one heck of an extensive job! In the end we were able to make the IMU and connections look outstandingly amazing. The next step was getting the battery tubes mounted up by solvent-welding the battery end caps. Everything was smooth sailing until we applied epoxy to the battery end caps [to water-proof them] when we discovered epoxy leaking into the battery tube itself! Luckily we caught this before it was too late [when we submerge Pegasus in the water]” Aaron makes a good point; as we get toward the end of the build-phase of Project Pegasus we really can’t afford to make any mistakes. While Pegasus is really coming together, we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us before our little ROV can actually jump in the water.
Stay tuned, these next few steps should be pretty interesting! Cheers, -Baron von Urchin
0 Comments
4/26/2017 San Diego, CA Project Our module today saw us back at the soldering station, prepping wires and mounting the ROV’s motors. Unfortunately, we got off to a rough start and our team learned a valuable lesson early on today: always come prepared with the right tools. Due to a lack of wire strippers (forgotten by yours truly), we quickly had to improvise; we had to find a way of stripping the rubber insulation off of the wires without cutting the wire itself. This proved to be no easy feat, but I am proud to say that the team held it together with grace and patience and at the end of the day everything worked out. Here’s what team member Lorenzo had to say: “Today is the day we finally get to put together the wire routing and motors for Pegasus (our ROV). It was a very exciting build because we were able to attach the motors with propellers to the main body. There are three motors on the ROV; port and starboard (left and right) motors drive the propellers which give the ROV directional thrust. The third motor provides vertical thrust. Once we finished prepping the motor we soon began working on the wiring of Pegasus itself by soldering some of the main wires that were color coded to match the motor wires. To do this we striped the appropriate wires from the DB-25 connector and the motor wires. There are three wires for the motor which means we had to solder three connections per motor! The soldering today was a major challenge as we had to figure out how to strip the wires without wire cutters and to wrap the exposed wires together. To protect the soldered connections (from water and stress) we melted plastic tubing (called "heat shrink") on to the connections as any exposed wire is dangerous and must be covered by something that doesn’t conduct electricity. Wire routing was also a challenge as we had to figure out what wires go in what direction and should be attached at which point to the inner frame of Pegasus. We used zip ties to clearly organize the wires, which will make the inner components of the ROV run more smoothly. Even though we made a few mistakes along the way, we learned from them and it all worked out in the end. This module brought the team closer together; solving tough challenges when things go wrong and learning from them is all part of the process when working on a project like this one. I am very happy, each day brings new exciting challenges and builds as we are almost finished building our ROV. In the end, the experiences and a chance to help others with what we are doing is the important part of all as this and soon we’ll be able to fly Pegasus in the ocean.” Well said Lorenzo! We’re just a few more build-days away from completing the construction of Pegasus! At this point soldering, acrylic welding and cooperation are second nature to Project Pegasus interns, and I couldn’t be more proud.
Be sure to check back in as we work towards getting Pegasus built and in the water! Cheers, Baron von Urchin
After all, the electronic components are really the hallmark of our ROV. We need to be able to communicate with and control our vehcile, as well as capture video from the camera. We’ll also be adding extra components to our ROV, such as external lights and sensors, all of which will be wired to the main circuit board. Here’s Maddie’s take on today’s build: “As our first official experience with soldering, Module 3 was a challenging yet successful step towards the completion of Pegasus. Today’s build began with assembling circuit boards as well as the top-side communication box. This required our team to pay close attention to detail when connecting wires and pins. Our next steps involved soldering the wires that control video and power connection to the camera board. Soldering is a process in which a bond is formed between two or more metal components by melting and putting a filler metal (solder) into the joint. We applied solder to the soldering iron, and then used the “tinned” iron to form a bond with the wires and the board. Each of us got a turn and were very successful considering it was our first attempt. The most challenging aspect of soldering is that you are working with an extremely hot piece of equipment in a very tight space with little room for error. After this was completed, we assembled the camera mount which entailed connecting wires in a precise orientation on the camera board and main control panel. The camera board is situated within a structural unit that will allow the angle of the camera to be changed with the help of the “servo”. Today was a complex build, but we were able to complete Module 3. In this module, our team continued to build teamwork skills which are critical to the completion of Pegasus. We learned that working together to analyze the instructions is key to avoiding mistakes. Due to our collaboration, we even found a few errors and misrepresentations in the instructions. As the saying goes, “teamwork is dream work” and we are working hard to accomplish our goals!”
Well said Maddie, well said. Be sure to stay tuned, we’ve only got two more modules to go until we’re ready to start testing Pegasus! Cheers, Baron von Urchin. San Diego, California 4/19/2017 Many of you might have heard about the March for Science taking place in Washington DC and other cities around the world this Earth Day, Saturday April 22nd. For those of you already planning on attending, good on you! However, if you’re on the fence about it, please take a moment to consider attending. This is not about “us” as scientists marching to vocalize our frustration. This march isn’t even really about “us”. This demonstration is really for anyone, any human, that is alive today, vocalizing their outrage or simply demonstrating their support for science. There are people in this world who are encroaching on our right to explore, to learn, and expand our understanding. And that is absolutely unacceptable. In almost every facet of our lives, “science” has given us, our species, something. Whatever it is, whatever object you hold in your hand, has a story. Where it came from, and how it got to you, or you to it, is only part of that story. Its history is also part of that story. Your computer/smartphone/tablet is not a single object created out of nothing. No magic wand was waved. It is the culmination of thousands of people hours, from conception to manufacturing. Trial, error, patience, and perseverance. Even the extraction of the resources and the fabrication of its components are part of its history. The history of objects isn’t limited to our technical innovations either. Take, for example, an apple. Keep in mind, modern apples are a product of domestication; human’s way of preferentially selecting traits to either be expressed or suppressed. We now can enjoy apples of seemingly endless varieties any time of the year, in almost every corner of the world. For better or for worse, science enabled this now common-place commodity.
So please, if raising your voice is your thing, please join us on Saturday in whatever capacity makes you feel comfortable. Let the world know that we stand together.
“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” Ryunosuke Satoro Until next time, -Baron von Urchin 4/12/17 San Diego, California After completing our first of five modules, we were ready to get back to work on Pegasus. The second set of instructions saw us using acrylic cement again to solvent-weld some of the internal structures of our ROV together. However, the stakes were a lot higher this time; at a certain point, we’re going to have to start building and using the electronic components of our ROV. After all, the propose of building Pegasus is to gather invaluable data, which includes real-time video from our upcoming dives. For this build we had to saw off the end of a syringe (for use later on), solvent-weld more acrylic, and super glue the DB-25 connector in to place, which is a major connection point for the electronic components. Here’s what Project Pegasus intern Jordan Schultz had to say about today’s build: “We were still using solvent welding to cement the plastic structural pieces together. We made sure to measure at least five times before we did any cementing of the acrylic in order to ensure no errors would occur. Everyone on the team got a turn with the dropper of acrylic solvent. However, we have noticed that it is difficult to control the speed at which the solvent comes out of the dropper. Because of this, we had to be very careful when applying the solvent, especially because it will cement the plastic together in a matter of seconds. We had a few incidents where the water-like substance poured out of the dropper, which lead to gloves being taken off and hands rapidly being washed. Nevertheless, we were able to cement the acrylic together efficiently. An important lesson we learned today was that preparation is key to being successful. If we all show up ready to build but we do not have the proper tools, little can be done. Thus moving forward, it is essential that we plan and prepare ahead of time in order to make certain that we are diligent and productive with our time.” After it was all said and done, we had to apply fast-setting epoxy to water-proof some of the components from this week’s module and last week’s as well. Looking at the individual pieces, it’s hard to believe that after three more modules we’ll be submerging our very own ROV in the ocean!
Be sure to stay tuned, next time the team and I will learn all about electronics and soldering! Cheers, Baron von Urchin. 3/22/2015 San Diego, CA While most of the life in the ocean lives in relatively shallow water, sometimes we need to dive deeper to gather data for the projects that we work on. And sometimes we’re not always interested in the life in the ocean, but rather some of the more physical aspects. While SCUBA diving is a great tool for gathering data, sometimes it’s better not to put divers in the water. Over the last several years, the use of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) have become vital for studying physical and biological patterns in the ocean. Tethered to a boat and operated by a “pilot”, scientists can “fly” ROVs from shallow waters down to the deepest depths; equipped with all sorts of cameras sensors and instruments, these “robots” have allowed us to explore the ocean safely and efficiently. One of the most famous ROV discoveries was that of the wreck of the Titanic by Dr. Bob Ballard in 1998. So, you might be asking yourself, “why is a self-proclaimed algae nerd talking about ROVs?” Well, I am incredibly excited to introduce Project Pegasus. Along with four incredibly talented high school student-interns from La Jolla, San Diego, I will be building the Edwards Lab’s very own ROV! With the help of the Edwards Lab, we were able to purchase our very own OpenROV v2.8 kit, which is essentially a DIY ROV kit. While the concept of a DIY ROV kit is pretty outstandingly novel, one of the coolest aspects of OpenROV is the international community of ROV users. Folks have built and modified these little robots for use in lakes, underwater caves and in oceans around the world. And now we have our very own! As I mentioned above, the team consists of four determined high school students from the Windansea Surf Club in La Jolla. These committed ocean-enthusiasts proved their mettle when they mapped their local reef with the use of a fish-finder and a couple of kayaks in 2015. Now we’re hoping to really step things up with Project Pegasus; we’ve already got some exciting projects in the works. As part of this internship, the team members are each responsible for drafting grant proposals centered around ROV-related projects. I’m really proud of the team’s creativity, so be sure to check back in for updates as we move forward
However, we’re just getting started with the actually construction of our ROV. The team and I learned a lot about acrylic and solvent welding. For example, you don’t technically glue acrylic, you use a solvent to weld pieces together. Along the way my interns and I will be learning how to solder, work with circuit boards, and trouble-shoot any and all issues related to the construction and deployment of an ROV. And the clock is already ticking! We’ve got just a few short months before the Edwards Lab takes off for our last Aleutians cruise, and we’ve already got big plans for little Pegasus. Be sure to check back in as we work through the build-phase of Project Pegasus. And check out our OpenExplorer page for more exciting updates! Keep on exploring! -Baron von Urchin 3/14/2017 San Diego, Ca As a graduate student, and an early career scientist, I get a lot of questions about the things I do, the places my work takes me, and the importance of science. Over the last several years I’ve been asked questions like: “So you’re a marine biologist, do you just play with dolphins all day?”, “Why is the ocean so cold?”, “Is it safe to eat fish after Fukushima?”, “Why should I care about algae? They’re not even interesting!” and most alarmingly, “Is climate change real?”. While all of these questions are answerable (No; because of heat transfer; yes Fukushima likely didn’t affect fisheries in the Eastern Pacific, but also no, it depends on the species; algae are always interesting! Oh let me count the ways; YES, "unequivocally" yes), the bigger issue is that the answers to these questions (and many more) are not shared with the general public in a clear and understandable way. Many aspects/functions/species/trophic interactions/ecosystem dynamics in the ocean are still mysterious to marine scientists, but that doesn’t mean that the answers we already have need to remain a mystery to non-science folks. The relatively new field of “science communication” aims to bring the work that scientists do to the general public (and policy makers). When done effectively, the mysterious become clear, the inapproachable becomes tangible. You’ve probably seen nature documentaries, or heard about recent works in newsbreaks. That’s all a great start, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg. Recently, my lab mate, PhD candidate Melissa Ward, hosted a SciComm seminar/workshop at the Coastal and Marine Institute in San Diego. I’m still digesting all of the great resources Mel shared with us. But, I think, the biggest messages from the meeting is that the scientific community and the general public need to actively breakdown the barriers that keep our “worlds” separated. What I mean by that is, as I’ve said before, even though we’re over worked and underpaid, scientists need to work on coming down from their “ivory towers” as much as non-scientists need to feel like we are approachable members of society. Not all of us in the scientific community want to be active communicators, and that’s OK. However, you never know when you’ll find yourself in a position to communicate the work done in your field, or even the details of your research to a member of the general public. Have you ever been sitting on an airplane, or standing in an elevator, when someone asks you, “So, what do you do?”. You’ve got a very limited amount of time to relate your passions and pitfalls, and the nuances of your work before the other person either gets lost or looses interest, or both! So, I encourage all of you actively working in academia and in research, to take some time to think about your field, and the significance of your work. Even if you’re not actively engaging in SciComm, chances are you’ll have to relate your work in “layman’s” terms at least once during your career. Challenge yourself to write about your work using the 1,000 most common words in the English language! And, to those of you who aren’t actively pursuing research or academia, don’t be afraid to ask questions. I can’t speak for all scientists, but most of the folks I know love to talk about the ocean, their research and the natural world with anyone who cares to ask. Be sure to check back in soon, there are some pretty exciting projects in the works right now! Sincerely, Baron von Urchin Disclaimer: This is not a political blog. This space is designated for talking about ecology, research, and a particularly salty lifestyle. However, we live in very, very interesting times.
Regardless of your political affiliations, please call or email your Member of Congress and let them know how vital the services provided by NOAA and SeaGrant are to oceanographic and atmospheric science, early warning systems and coastal economies. If you like eating seafood caught in US waters, or knowing when hurricanes are coming then I strongly urge you to take action. Check out post by the good folks at Southern Fried Science for more information and a script for your phone call/email. Keep a weather eye on the horizon! -Baron von Urchin 2/12/2017 Catalina Island, California After three and half days of diving and living on Catalina Island, we were finally ready to start wrapping things up. The weather finally cleared and on Sunday morning we greeted by bright, beautiful sunshine. Although we had accomplished quite a lot over the weekend, we had one last experiment to conduct before we could pull the chambers and break down our gear. While the dissolved oxygen sensors left inside the chambers gives us an understanding of what the community of algae is doing over a 24-hour cycle, Genoa also needs to know what the individual species are contributing. And by contributing, I mean how much oxygen they can produce via photosynthesis versus how much they can consume via respiration. In other words, what is going on during the day (photosynthesis) and what’s going on at night (respiration). Just like our own cells, plants and algae also respire, consuming oxygen as a form of cellular metabolism.
2/10-11/2016 Catalina Island, California Genoa, Tristin and I awoke in the pre-dawn gloom early on Friday morning. After an incredibly long journey from the mainland to Wrigley Station, with just enough time to get an evening dive in on the night of 9th, we were ready to suit up and flush Genoa’s experimental chambers. We had the dive locker all to ourselves; it seems as though the forecasted weather kept most people off of “The Rock” for the weekend. But not us, we have diving to do and data to collect! Much like the work the Edwards’ Lab has been doing in the Aleutians, Genoa is investigating the effects of an incredibly invasive alga, Sargassum on local patterns of Net Community Production. Since about 2012, Sargassum has rapidly spread along the coast of Southern California, replacing giant kelp as the dominant species on many temperate rocky reefs. Sargassum is an annual species; unlike giant kelp individuals which can live for multiple years, Sargassum dies back each summer. The implications of the loss of giant kelp and the rise of Sargassum on many rocky reef communities in Southern California has yet to be fully understood.
As we were conducting surveys and setting up chambers, we would occasionally have to kick up out of the "Devil Weed" just to make sure we didn’t get separated from on other, even if we were within touching distance. However, recent storms (including last year’s El Niño) have brought cold, nutrient rich waters to Southern California, and it seems as though giant kelp is making a comeback!
Be sure to check back in for the final installment of our Catalina Chronicles. Cheers, -Baron von Urchin |
AuthorPike Spector is currently a Research Operations Specialist with Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Archives
August 2022
Categories |