SeaPerch

SeaPerch

Arkansas 4-H SeaPerch Challenge

Two boys sitting at edge of pool, ready to launch their SeaPerch ROV in to the water.

If you have questions, please reach out to the STEM Instructor, Michelle McVay at mmcvay@uada.edu.

The Arkansas 4-H SeaPerch Challenge is held every year as a qualifier for the International SeaPerch Challenge.

In the 2024 Season, the Arkansas 4-H SeaPerch Challenge was held at the University of Arkansas Little Rock on March 1, 2024.

In the 2025 Season, the Arkansas 4-H SeaPerch Challenge will be held at the University of Arkansas Little Rock on March 14, 2025.

As in years past, the registration will be through your local county extension office.  and team registrations will be $80/team. We will have the Open, Junior Stock & Senior Stock Classes available. Registration will need to be completed by Friday, February 14, 2025.

There are many resources available for the SeaPerch Challenge. Listed below are a few that have been found most useful. Click here   for the 2020 webinar describing details about the SeaPerch program and that years SeaPerch Challenge. Be sure to check out the 2025 Challenge Course information as that section has changed. Feel free to contact your local county extension office  with any questions.

 

The 2025 Arkansas 4-H SeaPerch Challenge will have the classes listed below. For additional information about the classes for your teams check out this link..

  • Junior Stock Class:
    • Teams include students in 8th grade and below.
    • The total cost of modifications to the final ROV must be $25 or less
    • Frame built using only PVC, CPVC, PEX pipe and fittings. Any size pipes and pipe fittings may be used. Pipes and pipe fittings may be modified using hand and power tools, but may not be machined using CNC or other automated process.
    • Must only use simple on/off switches for thruster controls
    • May use PWM, microcontrollers, or other devices for non-thruster controls
    • May use a fixed or variable resistor to reduce voltage
  • Senior Stock Class:
    • Teams include students in 9th grade and above
    • The total cost of modifications to the final ROV must be $25 or less
    • Frame built using only PVC, CPVC, PEX pipe and fittings. Any size pipes and pipe fittings may be used. Pipes and pipe fittings may be modified using hand and power tools, but may not be machined using CNC or other automated process.
    • Must only use simple on/off switches for thruster controls
    • May use PWM, microcontrollers, or other devices for non-thruster controls
    • May use a fixed or variable resistor to reduce voltage
    • Open Class:
      • The cost of modifications may exceed $25
      • Frame may include 3D printed or additive manufactured parts as well as other materials, and may be made using CNC machinery or other automated process.
      • May include more than 3 thrusters (i.e., motor and propeller assembly)
      • May use power conditioning or pulse-width modulation (PWM) controls for thruster controls

This year, teams will have 4 events for teams to be scored for placement. Details about scheduling will be announced closer to the competition. OPTIONAL events will be the Real-World Innovation Poster & Community Outreach Posters. Check out the info below.

  • Technical Design Report: This is an updated version of the Engineering Notebook. This is a 5 page (maximum) document that outlines the Engineering Design Process  for the team. Check out these instructions for the report. Follow the rubric carefully to make sure you get all the easy points! This will be a digital submission and must be submitted to Michelle McVay via Microsoft Form  on February 21, 2025. If you are unable to access the form, please email Michelle McVay at mmcvay@uada.edu with the subjest SeaPerch Report - TEAM NAME.
  • Meet the Team Interview: 4-H strives to develop well-rounded individuals that excel in soft skills such as presentation and interviews. Each team will present their ROV to a panel of judges. Components of the presentation include introduction of team, design of the ROV, modifications to fulfill tasks, successes, challenges, and the engineering design process. Each member of the team must have a roll in the presentation (even if it is just introducing themselves). Team members will have 5 minutes to introduce themselves and their SeaPerch.   A short Q&A time will be at the end of the interview by the judging panel. Possible Interview questions. and Scoring Rubric.   
  • Mission Course: In 2025, the Mission Course incorporates a mission related to Environmental Monitoring: Coral Restoration. The Coral Restoration Mission is a simulation of the tasks and environment that an ROV might encounter while working to recover and restore coral reefs! For full information of this year's Mission Course check here. In this pool course, teams will accumulate points for ranking via the following rubric.
  • Obstacle Course: The obstacle course is a series of 5 hoops that allows for teams to navigate through the water. This is a timed event  and will have 2 chances to run to get their best time. For full information of this year's Obstacle Course check here. In this pool course, teams will accumulate points for ranking via the following rubric.

** As a reminder, Pool Event Rules must be followed at the Competition.  Check here for full information.**

Optional Events:

  • Real-World Innovation Poster: This is an OPTIONAL event for the SeaPerch Challenge. This will allow for teams to think outside the box about how the ROV technology can be utilized for real world applications. Check out the instructions for the poster and rubric for direction.
  • Community Outreach Project: This is a OPTIONAL event for the SeaPerch Challenge. Whether you volunteer your time in your community, or your team finds a way to connect and offer support—share what the SeaPerch Teams are doing in their communities.  Details can be found at Community Outreach!

Blue and green SeaPerch logo with outlines of 2 fish on the left side.

 

2025 Competition Details

The competition will be held in-person on Friday, March 14, 2025 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock pool. Registration is due at NOON on Friday, February 14, 2025. Click here to Register you team for the 2025 Competition.

The Engineering Notebook has been replaced with the Technical Design Report. . This report is a 5 page maximum report with the following sections: 

1. Abstract (1/2 page)

2. Task Overview (1/2 page)

3. Design Approach (2 pages)

4. Experimental Results (1 page)

5. Reflection & Next Steps (1 page)

6. Acknowledgements (no page limit)

7. References (no page limit)

Be sure to check the resources below for full details of the report and the rubric. Be sure to check the rubric for those EASY points!

Technical Design Reports will be a digital submission and must be submitted to Michelle McVay via Microsoft Form by February 21, 2025. If you are unable to access the form, please email Michelle McVay at mmcvay@uada.edu with the subjest SeaPerch Report - TEAM NAME.

4-H strives to develop well-rounded individuals that excel in soft skills such as presentation and interviews. Each team will present their ROV to a panel of judges. Components of the presentation include introduction of team, design of the ROV, modifications to fulfill tasks, successes, challenges, and the engineering design process. Each member of the team must have a roll in the presentation (even if it is just introducing themselves). Team members will have 5 minutes to introduce themselves and their SeaPerch.   A short Q&A time will be at the end of the interview by the judging panel. Possible Interview questions. and Scoring Rubric.   

 

**Interview times will be announced after registration.**

  • Mission Course: In 2025, the Mission Course incorporates a mission related to Environmental Monitoring: Coral Restoration. The Coral Restoration Mission is a simulation of the tasks and environment that an ROV might encounter while working to recover and restore coral reefs! For full information of this year's Mission Course check here. In this pool course, teams will accumulate points for ranking via the following rubric.
  • Obstacle Course: The obstacle course is a series of 5 hoops that allows for teams to navigate through the water. This is a timed event  and will have 2 chances to run to get their best time. For full information of this year's Obstacle Course check here. In this pool course, teams will accumulate points for ranking via the following rubric.

** As a reminder, Pool Event Rules must be followed at the Competition.  Check here for full information.**

 

  • Real-World Innovation Poster: This is an OPTIONAL event for the SeaPerch Challenge. This will allow for teams to think outside the box about how the ROV technology can be utilized for real world applications. Check out the instructions for the poster and rubric for direction.
  • Community Outreach Project: This is a OPTIONAL event for the SeaPerch Challenge. Whether you volunteer your time in your community, or your team finds a way to connect and offer support—share what the SeaPerch Teams are doing in their communities.  Details can be found at Community Outreach!

 

Optional Event Projects will be submitted with the Technical Design Reports as a digital submission and must be submitted to Michelle McVay via Microsoft Form by February 21, 2025. If you are unable to access the form, please email Michelle McVay at mmcvay@uada.edu with the subjest SeaPerch Report - TEAM NAME.

 

 

 

Blue and green SeaPerch logo with outlines of 2 fish on the left side.

 

2024 Competition Results

Congratulations to all the teams for competing this year! 

Junior Team Winners

*1st Place - THE WET WILLIES, Grant County

2nd Place - Submarine Crew, Madison County

3rd Place - Stingrays, Grant County

Senior Team Winners

*1st Place - Deep Water Vanguard, Grant County

2nd Place - Baddies, Madison County

3rd Place - Blue Abyss Battalion, Howard County

Open Team Winners

*1st Place - Aquanauts, Grant County

2nd Place - The Crocodiles, Madison County

3rd Place - Non-Boat, Newton County

 

*International SeaPerch Challenge Qualifier

Junior Team Winners

1st Place - Submarine Crew, Madison County

2nd Place - Saline Co. 4-H SeaCow Submarines, Saline County

3rd Place  - Manta Rays, Howard County

Senior Team Winners

1st Place - Deep Water Vanguard, Grant County

2nd Place - Blue Abyss Battalion, Howard County

3rd Place - The Wet Bandits, Union County

Open Team Winners

1st Place - Aquanauts, Grant County

2nd Place - The Crocodiles, Madison County

3rd Place - Shark, Pike County

Junior Team Winners

1st Place - Submarine Crew, Madison County

2nd Place (Tie) - Stingrays, Grant County

2nd Place (Tie) - Swamp Donkeys, Madison County 

3rd Place - Snoopjaws, Howard County

Senior Team Winners

1st Place - Baddies, Madison County

2nd Place - Team Tip of the Spear, Grenada County, MS

3rd Place - Deep Water Vanguard, Grant County

Open Team Winners

1st Place - Aquanauts, Grant County

2nd Place - The Crocodiles, Madison County

3rd Place - Big Dawgs, Newton County

Junior Team Winners

1st Place - Scubabots, Grant County

2nd Place (Tie) - Manta Rays, Howard County

2nd Place (Tie) - The Whales, Miller County  

3rd Place - THE WET WILLIES, Grant County

Senior Team Winners

1st Place - Deep Water Vanguard, Grant County

2nd Place (Tie) - Pope County Diffusers, Pope County

2nd Place (Tie) - Blue Abyss Battalion, Howard County

2nd Place (Tie) - Narwhal, Pike County

3rd Place - Watery Graves, Pulaski County

Open Team Winners

1st Place - Aquanauts, Grant County

2nd Place (Tie) - The Odyssey, Newton County

2nd Place (Tie) - Non-Boat, Newton County

3rd Place (Tie) - The Crocodiles, Madison County

3rd Place (Tie) - Shark, Pike County

Junior Team Winners

1st Place - Team 1, Perry County

2nd Place - Pope County Aqua Tanks, Pope County

3rd Place - Saline Co. 4-H SeaCow Robotics Lime Shock SeaStars, Saline County

Senior Team Winners

1st Place - Watery Graves, Pulaski County

2nd Place - Narwhal, Pike County

3rd Place - Pope County Diffusers, Pope County

Open Team Winners

1st Place - The Crocodiles, Madison County

2nd Place - The Odyssey, Newton County

3rd Place - Shark, Pike County

1st Place - 

2nd Place - 

3rd Place - 

 

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