SCOUT Missions

DESIGN BRIEF

Aircraft

• Use flight data to determine the search zone for the wreckage
• Place a marker buoy at the wreck site
• Remove debris from the engine
• Lift two pieces of debris
• Move the debris from the wreck area
• Return the engine to surface using a lift bag*

· Inflate the lift bag to raise the engine
· Return the engine and lift bag to surface, side of pool

• After recovery, identify the aircraft using the tail structure and serial number

*Teams must use the lift bags provided by MATE, which will be connected to the engine at the start of the mission run.

Earthquakes 

• Pull the pin to release the seismometer from the elevator
• Remove the seismometer from elevator
• Deploy the seismometer into the designated zone on seafloor
• Level the seismometer
• Open the door of the power and communications hub
• Lay the seismometer cable through one waypoint
• Insert the seismometer cable connector into the port on the hub 

Energy

• Use tidal data and nautical chart to determine the optimum region for a tidal turbine
• Install a tidal turbine in the optimum location
• Install an Intelligent Adaptable Monitoring Package (I-AMP) to monitor area

· Install the I-AMP to its stand
· Lock the I-AMP onto the stand

• Place a mooring on the bottom
• Attach an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) on the mooring line
• Eelgrass habitat monitoring and restoration

· Collect two samples of eelgrass for topside analysis
· Transplant two eelgrass frames to a previously disturbed area.

SPECS

What follows is a summary of the electrical and fluid power requirements for the SCOUT competition class. The complete design and building specifications will be included within the competition manual.

• 12 volts, 15 amps DC. Conversion to lower voltages is permitted topside and on the ROV. Onboard electrical power is not permitted.
• Manually-powered hydraulics and pneumatics are permitted. Pneumatic systems cannot exceed ambient pool pressure and must follow the fluid power specifications included within the competition manual.
• Lasers are NOT permitted.
• Depth requirement: Varies depending on the regional event. The regional coordinator will provide this information.
• Anderson Powerpole connectors are required on all vehicles. 
• Maximum size limit: None. See below for additional details on size requirements.

NOTE:  Watch for new safety requirements and additional, detailed electrical specifications within the competition manuals.

SIZE AND WEIGHT POINT VALUES

The Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington has included an ROV size and weight requirement in the request for proposals (RFP). Smaller, lighter vehicles will be given special consideration and vehicles above a certain size and weight will not be considered

All size and weight measurements will include the vehicle, all tools and components, and the tether. The topside control system and 1 meter of tether going into the control system will NOT be included in the length or weight measurement. To receive points for smaller sized vehicles, the two largest dimensions of the vehicle and tether must fit through a round hole of the following dimensions:

Vehicles above 60 cm in diameter will still be allowed to compete in the product demonstration, but will receive 0 points for size.

NOTE: In addition to the size and/or weight limitations described above, companies must be able to personally transport the vehicle and associated equipment to the product demonstration station and to the technical sales presentation room. The ROV systems must be capable of being safely hand launched.

RESOURCES

Teams are permitted to use the materials of their choice provided that they are safe, will not damage or otherwise mar the competition environment, and are within the defined design and building specifications.

Teams are encouraged to focus on engineering a vehicle to complete the product demonstration tasks; when considering design choices, teams should ask themselves which one most efficiently and effectively allows them to solve the problem. Re-using components built by previous team members is permitted provided that the current team members evaluate, understand, and can explain their engineering and operational principles. Using or re-using commercial components is also permitted, provided that team members evaluate, understand, and can explain their engineering and operational principles. Teams will be questioned extensively on their overall design and component selections during their technical sales presentations.

TIME
The complete competition manual will be released by November 15, 2017; teams have from that date until the regional events in the spring of 2018 to construct their vehicles and prepare the engineering and communication components (technical reports, engineering presentations, and poster displays).  Visit the MATE website at www.marinetech.org or request to be added to the MATE competition listserve to ensure a timely delivery.