Week 8: Overview

During week 8, the group finished the construction of the final design of the SeaPerch. Two pieces of plastic were added to the top and the back of the SeaPerch so the swim cap could be attached. One swim cap is stretched from the back of the SeaPerch to the middle, in order to create a funnel for the water. The three propellers all face horizontally, pushing water out of the smaller hole in the back. This will allow a greater push forward, making the SeaPerch faster. The group brought the SeaPerch to the Drexel pool in order to test if the SeaPerch was in fact more hydrodynamic. There were some flaws in the design that will be repaired before testing again. The SeaPerch sank to the bottom of the pool, which means more foam must be added. This is due to the fact that there is less surface area, so the weight was not distributed evenly. Also, the SeaPerch pulls left while it is being steered, and does not ride straight. This could be due to one motor being stronger than the other, or the propellors were not attached properly.