Eleven students from the Sound School built a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) to compete in the 2006 MATE (Marine Advanced Technology Education) ROV Competition. The challenge – to build a vehicle with the ability to install electronic modules, while at the same time running cable to the module at depths of 40 feet – was part of an annual MATE Center initiative aimed at helping to prepare America's future workforce for ocean-related occupations.

The Sound School, along with other student teams, had the opportunity to play a crucial role in the creation of MARS – the Monterey Accelerated Research System – which is being installed in Calif. as part of a key component to the Central California Ocean Observing System, also known as CenCoos.

After hearing about igus® and its Y.E.S. (Young Engineers Support) Program, the Sound School MATE team was interested in learning more about how it could take advantage of the company’s free product donations. Cable carrier and bearing experts from igus visited the Sound School to aid the team in choosing the best products for its vehicle. The group settled on igus’ Chainflex® continuous-flex cables, DryLin® R linear bearings and a DryLinW linear guide system.

DryLin W and DryLin R, along with iglide threaded nuts, were used to attach a flotation device to the ROV. By using DryLin W to connect the float, the team was able to manipulate the position of syntactic foam, in turn making it possible to adjust the ROV’s center of gravity. Without igus components, this would not have been possible. DryLin W also enables the ROV’s manipulator to move on the XYZ axes. Because DryLin W provides the manipulator with a tremendous range of motion, it is more easily able pick up objects.

The team also used Chainflex CF2 and CF30, power and control cables, which are both flame-retardant and oil-resistant. By using Chainflex, the team was able to minimize the number of cables in the ROV’s tether, making it lighter and easier to handle.

"The igus products were invaluable to the team and improved the functionality of our ROV," reported the Sound School team.