Nov. 8--A swimmer wearing a wetsuit went for a dip Friday morning in the pool at Western Kentucky University's Preston Health and Activities Center.

A few feet away in the water, a small underwater vehicle the size of a toy truck fixed its "eyes" on the swimmer and broadcast the images on a poolside monitor from where the vehicle was being operated.

The new machine, designed and built by WKU electrical engineering students Kory Liszt and Jack Wallace, is called a submersible remotely operated vehicle, and its makers plan to see their creation used by the Warren County Rescue Department for underwater searches.

"This will have a definite impact on the community and may help save lives someday," said WKU electrical engineering professor Walter Collett.

Liszt and Wallace, both seniors, spent nearly two years working on the ROS, designing the mechanical and electrical systems as well as the power, control and video components on their own time.

The ROS eventually turned into their junior class project, and was developed for $4,000.

"I've always been looking for some hands-on experience because I feel that's how you learn the skills you need," said Liszt, 22, of Pleasanton, Calif. "It's been cool to see how this works in real-world applications."

A demonstration of the device Friday at the Preston Center pool showed how the ROS can be used in emergency situations.

Andy Tucker, chief of the Warren County Rescue Department, said the ROS is the only known portable and independently powered remotely operated vehicle of its kind.

The submersible is powered by an RV battery, with a thick yellow cord that extends to 60 feet and the ability to record video up to 120 feet below the surface.

The device is controlled remotely from a control panel that resembles a briefcase. Two joysticks control the left and right engines and direct the craft, while another knob controls upward and downward movements.

A water-resistant camera transmits video to the control panel.

Similar underwater devices exist, but have limited mobility and are powered by an alternating current, requiring a costlier generator.

The direct current from a car battery that powers the ROS allows it to be more portable, with everything fitting into two cases.

"With this, we can work all day long on an underwater operation without worrying about the needs of human responders and keeping them out of hazardous conditions," Tucker said.

Wallace, 28, of Springfield, Tenn., said the ROS was tested recently with the county rescue squad in a lake at the Blue Level rock quarry, reaching depths of about 35 feet.

Despite it being overcast on the day of the test, the machine was able to transmit clear video of the trees and brush underwater as well as the bottom of the lake, Wallace said.

"The video actually outperformed what we expected," said Wallace, who spent five years in the U.S. Navy.

The ROS also adeptly maneuvered through submerged tree limbs and brush, Liszt said.

Tucker said that once the rescue department becomes more familiar with the capabilities of the submersible, it will be incorporated into more underwater search and rescue operations in the county and elsewhere throughout the state.

"Throughout this project, the university was more than eager to work with us and they were actually able to take the expectations we had for the project and pick it up about tenfold," Tucker said.

-----

To see more of the Bowling Green Daily News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.bgdailynews.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, The Daily News, Bowling Green, Ky.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.