Indonesia
Practice Assembling Underwater Robot in One Day
Dozens students of Sekolah Robot Indonesia (SRI) or Indonesian Robotic School were focus on Eric’s instruction on Wednesday, August 13th 2014. From 09.00 AM to 04.00 PM, the students were given a golden opportunity to meet Eric at Consulate General of USA office on CitraLand square, Surabaya. Eric was having a four days closed workshop. The content? None other than constructing underwater robot, something Eric knows so much about.
On August 11-12, 2014, the founder of OpenROV Inc was presenting his work simultaneously before robot loving students from SMAN 5 Surabaya, SMA Muhammadiyah 2 Sidorajo and SMA Margie Surabaya. He also made time to demonstrate his ROV (remotely operated vehicle) in a fish pond there.
On August 13-14, he specifically opened class to teach students of elementary to high school from many schools of SRI. “We invited Eric to fill Speaker Series Program to share his knowledge with Indonesian kids. This program features experts from different fields,” Yessika Indarini, Information Assistant US Consulate General Surabaya, explained.
On day one, Eric taught the SRI team quick assembling ROV. On the second day, he put the construction into water to see if they did manage to build working under water. According to SRI Advisor Dhadhang Setiya Budi Winarto, normally it takes 6-7 days to build one. “Given there are many hands involved in the project, it could shorten the time. Some work on this part, some work on that part,” Dhadhang revealed.
Eric appeared to be fully geared up in teaching the SRI team. He wandered around from one desk to another inspecting their job, and providing further instruction. Despite a hard day working, the ROV was not automatically ready to operate that day, Superkids. Some parts needed a whole nigh to make sure they stick tight.
Consul General Joaquin ‘Wakin’ Monserrate made time to stop by, checking out how the students worked. He reminded the students not to scare away the turtles in the fish pond with the ROV. “You’ll make them stressed,” he joked out.
Joaquin was very impressed by Eric and SRI’s seriousness at this program. He admitted that when he was at SRI’s student’s age, he had no knowledge about robot constructing. “We did explore forest and mountain, but what about the sea? This construction is crucial to make us easier finding out what lies beneath, without having to dive all the way down,” Joaquin praised them. Furthermore what impressed him was he knew that not all SRI students speak English, yet they still didn’t seem to have much difficulties understanding Eric’s instruction. He called it ‘knowledge language’, a one step higher level than oral conventional language.
On last June 26-28 2014, Lintang Selatan robotic team under SRI took part in “2014 MATE (Maritime Advance Technology Education) International ROV Competition” in US. The team won special award of Guts and Glory Awards for their focus and determination in assembling underwater robot. That’s why SRI students are no strangers at robot constructing activity, under Eric’s supervision.
From the four days meeting with Eric in Surabaya, Dhadhang determined to make a kit module like Eric’s that is easier to operate by anyone. “That way, we can make robot without being bothered by all those math work. For example, appropriate robot’s weigh to enable it making easy maneuver with balanced motion under water,” Dhadhang explained.
HAFIDA INDRAWATI
PHOTOS: HAFIDA INDRAWATI
