Underwater Robotics Opportunities for Students

Students on Washington Island have been competing in the underwater ROV SeaPerch Challenge, with the Door County Maritime Museum assisting by purchasing ROV kits for the students. Photo courtesy of Miranda Dahlke, Washington Island middle school teacher and SeaPerch adviser.

Explore the depths and embark on an educational adventure like no other with Door County Maritime Museum robotics. The museum, with operational support from United Way of Door County and the Door County Library System, is providing underwater robots in the form of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) kits for Door County students to learn the skills of robotics building and programming.

Students in fourth through eighth grades and their families will have the opportunity to build and pilot underwater ROVs, and access to the ROV kits will be provided through free workshops at the various library branches this summer. Each program is designed to be introductory, so no prior ROV or robotics experience is required. Learn more about the ROV program at dcmm.org/summer-library.

DCMM is also hosting a robotics camp Aug. 21-24, 9 am – 12 pm, when students entering fourth through eighth grades can take a deeper dive into the history and practical applications of ROVs and build their own robots in teams. They will pilot robots in the waters of Sturgeon Bay to assess the hull of the historical museum tugboat John Purves, located behind the museum, and participate in video chats with real-world researchers and ROV pilots.

The camp is offered on a three-tiered pricing structure to respect all financial situations. Students’ tier-pricing choice is confidential and based on the honor system, and it will not affect the quality of the camp experience. Learn more and sign up for the summer camp at dcmm.org/roboticscamp.