Case Background
The reason for the expedition was the integration of various teaching subjects with the intersubject topic of mobile robotics. The subjects included were geography, history and mobile robotics.
With this expedition, important data, pictures and videos were collected, from which one can see the state of sedimentation in the lake, which is used to power hydroelectric power plants. At the same time, there is a sunken settlement in that lake, which is of historical importance for the local community. Pictures and videos of historical remains are actively used in history teaching. Recordings of the state of sedimentation on the sunken remains are used in geography classes and to analyze the rate of sedimentation, which has a great impact on water quality. The amount of sedimentation is important because it directly affects the operation of the hydroelectric power plant and the wear of the mechanical components of the turbines.
The lake in question is Lake Peruć and is located in Croatia.
Further recordings were collected at the source of the Cetina River with the aim of analyzing the geological formations and assessing the water flow of the source itself without the risk of sending divers, because earlier there were diver deaths in that source.
The last location we visited and analyzed was the Zavratnica bay in Croatia and the sunken remains of a ship from WW2. The goal was to analyze the impact of sea water on the decomposition rate of the sunken wreck, the impact on the surrounding biosphere.
Students studying mobile robotics were also involved during the execution and planning, and they analyzed the performance of the underwater drone and the planning of similar missions.
Difficulty
Before the mission itself, we owned an underwater drone that we had just built, which we 3D printed. But such a throne was not equipped with a robotic gripper or had a user interface, it only had a primitive FPV camera. So after that experience we secured funding and bought the CHASING Gladius mini S which really changed our user experience and allowed us to accomplish this wonderful mission.
Considering that neither the previous drone nor the Gadius mini S has any advanced navigation type lidar or soran, the preparation of this mission was very technically demanding. Visibility in some places was almost 0, as can be seen from the video.
Process
Preparations
The simple user interface was a real revelation for us. The ability to store a large amount of videos and easily transfer them to a computer or tablet was most useful to us.
Roth gripper and simplicity as well as precision of opening and closing.
A professor of history and a professor of geography as well as a colleague from robotics were involved in the preparation of the messiah. Together we researched all relevant and existing underwater maps of the mentioned areas and carefully planned each dive.
Process
Collection of all information, maps and topology. Preparation of a detailed dive plan based on available information.
Social Values
Using this Gladius mini S underwater drone, the local community got the exact position of a submerged settlement that had not been mapped since the 60s. Sedimentation analysis will be used in hydropower plant maintenance planning and for teaching geography.
The data obtained from the wreckage of the sunken WW2 board is used for tourist purposes as well as for promotional materials for the bay itself. Biological data is used to protect the underwater world around the wreck itself.
Of course, the most important aspect of all this is provided as a learning experience for my students and examples of how to use ROVs in different industries.
Colleagues from the school also received new current recordings and data for history and geography lessons.
All this would not be possible without the Gladius mini S
