Long Distance Robotic Telepresence

[chrisol]

(Update March 6, 2010)

At Marine Resources Development Foundation the focus of our research with VideoRay is in the area of very long distance (internet) robotic telepresence. Key areas of investigation include: reliability; minimized control lags; and intuitive controllers using all our innate human senses/capabilities, so that we literally find ourselves somewhere else ... immersed and fully capable in another environment.

Thru a virtual internet presence in our manned underwater laboratory, we bring this technology as it develops into remote classrooms, laboratories, museums & aquariums around the world for their own testing, project development and education ... where they can "fly" VideoRay from afar.

This VideoRay technology is also available to on-site diving students and aquanauts that participate in our manned underwater laboratory programs. Last summer over 160 high school student/divers and their science teachers piloted VideoRay from under the sea using multiple control interfaces including headmounted display/head motion controllers.

We are encouraging educators, students and researchers to come-up with creative project ideas that can be conducted in the marine environment outside our submerged manned undersea station ... from their classrooms, labs, science centers, museums or aquariums ... over the internet using the VideoRay ROV.

If you or your organization is interested in participating or collaborating in this on-going educational/research program, would like to bring internet ROV control into your classroom, laboratory, science center, museum or aquarium for educational or research purposes, ... or you own a VideoRay and would like to test or implement internet ROV control at your own facility, post a message here and contact chris@mrdf.org.

(updated March 6, 2010)

Chris Olstad

Biologist/Underwater Technologist
Director of Habitat Operations
Marine Resources Development Foundation
51 Shoreland Drive
Key Largo, Florida
(305) 451-1139
chris@mrdf.org

[prowe]

Last winter I had the exciting opportunity to work with Chris and MRDF to enhance the control of his VideoRay ROV over the Internet. My INTERNET connection is not the best (far less capacity than most educational institutions have installed). Using a WebEx conference connection I was able to take control of his VideoRay at MRDF in Key Largo from my office in Concord Wisconsin and preform tasks like flying the pipe line, mid water flying, exploring the lagoons cannon collection and landing the ROV on the platform below the under water lab's moon pool. Most of all I enjoyed the wide variety underwater wildlife (Fish) that live around the underwater lab. Chris was there ready to take the controls if I ran into any problems. There were a few moments I almost needed some help but I was able to recover most of the time without assistance.

From the Underwater Lab at MRDF Chris can hold LIVE classes delivered into any class room with an INTERNET connection on many marine and science topics including flying the MRDF VideoRay! This is one of the coolest ways to engage students of all ages without having to take them underwater or even leave the class room!

Chris, I and many others plan on working together to bring enhancements to the ROV control capability over the INTERNET. We both believe Long Distance Robotic Telepresence is just the beginning of something BIG to come! I would suggest any teacher interested in a very exciting way to engage students contact Chris Olstad at MRDF for his program details.

[Craig Bussel]

Chris, it has been awhile since I piloted your system from my lab at the University of Connecticut, what about 5 years ago I think, to your lab at the bottom of the lagoon. Would be interested in the developments you have made. When you get a chance lets get back in touch.
Craig

[prowe]

Last week I had the opportunity to work with the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago assisting with their ROV teacher program. This week long program teaches teachers how to build and ROV and operate them, Teachers then return to their students with the skills and knowledge to teach their students about ROVs and the MATE program. This is the third year Shedd has offered this summer course to teachers. On day one Mark Gleason from Great Lakes Naval Memorial Museum http://www.glnmm.org presented to the group. After lunch we setup two VideoRay ROVs in the Caribbean reef exhibit at Shedd for the class to test their piloting skills. After the dip in the fish tank the class set to designing their ROVs.

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Tuesday Chris Olstad from MRDF http://www.mrdf.org joined the class from his underwater lab in Key Largo. During his presentation the class was able to drive his VideoRay over the Internet! During this session most of the teachers flew the "Pipe" course and a couple did some mid water flying. We also tried out controlling the VideoRay using a new input device, A Smart Board! http://www.smarttech.com. Two of the teachers tried this method,

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The Smart Board worked but it will need some additional configuration to fix a problem of the right click menu from popping up if you hold your finger on the board to long.

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The rest of Tuesday was dedicated to translating their design ideas into reality!

Wednesday was the main building day! The class assembled their PVC ROVs.

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Thursday morning was used to finished up the builds, test buoyancy, and controls.

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Around Noon the class departed for the Concordia University pool for the ROV first dives. All of the teams had working ROVs and were able to complete some assigned tasks like picking up "T" floating upright on the bottom of the pool, flying through a box and back. The day ended with a relay race where teams of two ROVs had to pass a "T" underwater from one side of the pool to the other.

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Friday was the big day! The class headed out with their ROVs to the Haigh Quarry about 60 miles from Shedd. The quarry usually has very clear water, lots of interesting fish and things on the bottom to look at. The quarry field trip provides the ROV teams a chance to operate their ROVs in a real life environment under real conditions. This year the water was not so clear. The rest of the day was spent exploring the quarry and enjoying the outdoors. This was graduation day for the class!

I am looking forward to next years Shedd Teacher ROV class and the MATE teams this years ROV teachers field!