ROV’s or remotely operated vehicles are underwater robots that allow a person to control it above the water’s surface. ROV’s are connected to the topside via an umbilical link that houses communication cables, an energy source, and information transfer.
The ROV club is currently in the process of building their own remotely operated vehicle, however there are past ROV’s and one research ROV that club members can look at for reference while at the campus.
Currently at LBCC on Monday and Wednesday at 4 p.m. the ROV club meets in Madrone Hall in Room-114. The advisor for the ROV club is Greg Mulder, physics department chair.
Fellow student and ROV club member Melanie Woodard is the acting president. There are currently 20 people on the team.
“Everyone is a valued member and plays an important role with the building of LBCC's remote operated vehicle,” said member Cat Regan.
Club members can expect to work with a team to develop tools to solve engineering problems.
“Go swimming with a robot, and meet a great deal of talented and passionate individuals,” said member Willis Rogers.
Each year, the ROV Team participates in a competition both nationally and internationally called the MATE ROV Competition. MATE stands for Marine Advanced Technology Education.
“It’s a friendly competition where each team learns and helps each other out with problems they may face,” said Regan.
While attending group meetings the club discusses each sub team’s current project and what the team as a whole is working on. After group discussion, they break off into sub teams and work on current projects.
“We also make jokes, play with lasers, and draw lots of pictures,” said Regan.
There are four separate teams that cohesively work together as a team. Each team has a specific task such as: camera team, collection team, laser measurement team and a propulsion team.
The importance of the ROV club is to research and collect vital information. Without individuals like the members of the ROV club, humanity would still be in the dark when it comes to below the surface.
“ROV students get to learn about the depths of the ocean that no man can reach, due to pressures and temperatures. You can discover new species and learn more about a world that has barely been investigated,” said Regan.
“The ROV club is important because it allows students to work in an engineering environment. It's one thing to learn all the material in classes, but to work with a team to develop something really gives experience we all need. There are not very many opportunities for this type of thing outside of post-associate degree undergraduate work,” said Rogers.
If you find yourself reading this profile of the ROV club, attend the twice weekly meetings, and inform a member of your interest in joining the club. You never know what could be out there in the deep blue sea of knowledge.
For further information please contact Greg Mulder at mulderg@linnbenton.edu
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