A Comparison of Waterproof Motor Housings for Student Robotics Teams

Abstract

Professionals and students alike create high-performance Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV)s to complete a multitude of tasks underwater. The student ROV competition created by Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) simulates the tasks faced by the modern professional underwater robotics industry. Students often design their ROVs with techniques used by the professional underwater robotics industry. Unlike professionals, students do not have many resources comparing manufacturable ROV components that fit within their design restrictions. Without information about components that they choose to use on their ROVs, students might miss an opportunity to implement a better alternative technology. Such is the case with older Shaft Sealed Housings (SSH) and less common Magnetically Coupled Housings (MCH). In this paper, essential aspects of both alternative designs for waterproof motor housings are tested to determine overall performance. The waterproofness of each housing is tested experimentally over long periods of time in an environment simulating the most extreme depths experienced at the MATE ROV Competition. Maximum static torque is measured on a torque sensor. Cost and manufacturability of each housing are recorded in tables. Ultimately, student robotics teams are left to determine which motor housing best fits their design requirements, based on the data discovered and presented in this paper.