Secondary Camera And Maneuvering Platform (SCAMP)
SCAMP is a family of underwater robots developed by the Space System Laboratory at the University of Maryland for testing in the neutral buoyancy tank. SCAMP simulates a free-flying camera in space, and is controlled remotely by an operator but can also be equipped with autonomous capabilities based on the vision system.
I was responsible for maintaining the SCAMP robots, preparing them for underwater tests, and participating as a support SCUBA diver at the Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility. SCAMP was my first hands-on experience with real robots, and in the process I obtained my SCUBA certification.
One of the SCAMP robots during underwater testing of an autonomous following algorithm (Daniel in the background holding a big orange ball)
The two SCAMP vehicles in the Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility at the University of Maryland (Daniel watching from the bottom of the tank).