Sea Perch II: Educational Autonomous Underwater Vehicle for K-12+ Audiences

The global ecosystem heavily relies on the oceans and adjacent habitats, which are currently facing challenges such as climate change, various forms of pollution, and overfishing [1]. To tackle these issues, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are frequently utilized in the field of ocean engineering, as they have the ability to perform a diverse range of tasks, including untethered ocean mapping, monitoring marine life, detecting underwater hazards and collecting integral data on ecosystem health. The SeaPerch II program, the next generation of the successful SeaPerch ROV program, tackles bringing AUVs to K-12+ audiences using inexpensive, accessible methods to create a proof-of-concept autonomous underwater vehicle. This paper describes both the development of basic autonomous capabilities for the SeaPerch II program, introduced in 2022 [2], as well as its implications for marine robotics and autonomy in education. The initial SeaPerch II AUV has been developed, tested and is being adapted into a platform to develop AUV learning materials and inspire learners to pursue careers in STEM, ocean science and engineering to tackle the next generation of multifaceted, complex problems.