Veterans ROV Club second at regional
June 21, 2012 2:26PM
Veterans Memorial School ROV Club members. | Supplied Photo
Updated: July 25, 2012 6:01AM
The ROV Club at Veterans Memorial Middle School in Blue Island recently took second place overall at the Shedd Aquarium Midwest Marine Advanced Technology Education ROV Regional Competition at the pool facilities at the University of Illinois-Chicago.
An ROV, or remotely operated vehicle, is a tethered underwater robot used for industries that operate underwater. ROVs can perform specialized tasks in industries such as oil and gas, commercial shipping, salvage, ship husbandry, potable water, ocean engineering, video production, scientific research and others.
The Marine Advanced Technology Education Center coordinates an international student underwater robotics competition, and a network of 21 regional ROV contests that take place across the U.S. and in Canada, Hong Kong, Scotland and Japan.
Student teams from upper elementary, middle schools, high schools, home schools, community colleges, universities and community groups participate. The competitions consist of three “classes” that vary depending on the sophistication of the ROV’s and the mission requirements.
In addition to technical skills, the events help students develop the ability to problem-solve, think critically and work as part of a team, event organizers said.
Veterans Memorial students participated at the Scout level and practiced for months prior to the competition. Club advisers Mary Garetto and Lisa Szynalski were trained by the Shedd Aquarium for two years in order to learn how to build and maneuver an ROV.
Provided to the SouthtownStar
