This year in seventh grade, Brandt chose to participate in an after school program every Monday called Science Academy. Throughout the year, he and his classmates, under the direction of Mrs. Threlfall and Mr. Walton, have built ROVs or remotely operated vehicles. In teams they picked themselves, they have been constructing robots using PVC pipe, motors, wires, batteries, and a remote control. Brandt has really enjoyed building his robot. He said it was both fun and hard. They had to cut and drill the PVC pipe and follow measurement instructions.
The culminating event for Science Academy was an underwater competition that was held today at the Lehi pool. Schools from all over came with their robots and put them to the test. Each team had to drive their robot through "sea weed" (string attached to floating water bottles), knock off suspended rings, and drop off a box at the far end of the sea weed. They had two practice times before the competition, and Brandt was the only one on his team to show up for the 2nd practice, so he was chosen by his team to be the driver.
When Brandt's team's competition time arrived, they had a couple of problems. First, sometimes their battery wouldn't connect to their controller. A light that indicated when there was power would come on intermittently, causing lack of movement all around. Brandt's teammate Zach held the wires to the battery so they would have power, but sometimes even that wouldn't work. It was very frustrating and painful for Zach.
The second problem was that the up and down propeller came off their robot as soon as they put it in the water. It floated to the surface as they robot sank to the bottom of the pool. While Brandt could sort of maneuver forward and backward, there was a bump on the bottom of the pool that made it difficult to move, and the rising to the surface was impossible. Brandt knocked off rings, but couldn't bring them up. They could have pulled the robot up, but that would dinged them 100 points, and they didn't want to risk it.
Ah well. Live and learn. Uncle Lee came to watch and had a simple suggestion that would have solved the problem. Sadly, that advice came too late. Overall, Centennial Middle School did take 4th place, so that's exciting. And being there with lots of other students, getting the day off school, and being able to try something he's never done before made the whole day a great success for Brandt.
Their robot, Jeff.
Constructed by team USS Root Beer
Brandt and Zach (on the phone)
Brandt and Matthew Ellis and Teagen (in the BYU sweatshirt) watching other competitors.
Ready for their turn.
Trying to figure out what's happening under the water.
Zach there on the ground, holding the wires to the battery.
Brandt at the controls.
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