Japan Underwater Robot Team Wins Dassault Systemes POTY2024 SOLIDWORKS Brand Prize

Japanese translation to follow. Project of the Year (POTY) is a global student design competition for Dassault Systèmes that focuses on sustainable design projects to show that change is possible. The SOLIDWORKS Brand winner is “Watatsumi Chofu” from Japan.

Team members, Haruomi Sakamoto (team leader), Megumu Isshiki, Takumi Moriyama, Fuka Masai, and Makoto Otsuka, from Kobe City College of Technology, create this robot with children and the environment in mind.

“Watatsumi Chofu” is an underwater robot that allows children to enjoy making things and experiencing nature. The themes of this product are “a proposal for next-generation education looking towards the future ten years from now” and “environmental conservation through robotics.”

“Watatsumi Chofu” features a highly expandable design, enabling flexible configurations tailored to various purposes such as biological observation and underwater cleaning. The upper part of the robot houses the main body equipped with circuits and a camera, as well as four propellers, allowing for control and movement of the robot. The lower part can be fitted with various attachments, and in this case, an underwater garbage collection mechanism is installed. The garbage collection mechanism consists of tires, a collection device, and a storage compartment, enabling efficient garbage collection underwater.

Additionally, at the Techno Ocean 2023 Underwater Robot Competition, the robot performed in competitions and demonstrated garbage collection, alongside presenting the product, and received the Best Presentation Award.

By using the beginner-friendly programming tool Scratch, children can easily operate the robot and check the camera, making it accessible even to programming novices. This provides children with opportunities to experience the beauty of nature and ecosystems.

In conclusion, “Watsumi Chofu” is an effective tool for providing children with hands-on making and nature experiences as part of next-generation education, while also conveying the importance of environmental conservation.

Thank you “Watsumi Chofu” team for using SOLIDWORKS to create this great robot to teach kids about environment conservation.

For 10 years, Project of the Year (POTY) has featured innovative projects from students to make an impact on the world. Students, start planning now for next year. Announcement Spring 2025.

Design well. Marie

Project Description :

「海神ちょふ」は、子どもたちがものづくりと自然体験を楽しめる水中ロボットです。このプロダクトのテーマは「10年後の未来に向けた次世代教育の提案」と「ロボットによる環境保全」にあります。

「海神ちょふ」は、拡張性の高い設計を採用しており、生物観察や水中清掃など、用途に合わせた柔軟な機構を組み合わせることが可能です。ロボットの上部には、回路やカメラを搭載した本体と4つのプロペラがあり、これによりロボットの制御と移動を行います。下部には様々なアタッチメントを取り付けることができ、今回は水中のゴミ回収機構が搭載されています。ゴミ回収機構は、タイヤ、ゴミ回収用機構、ゴミ収納部から成り立っており、水中でのゴミ回収を効率的に行います。

また、「Techno Ocean 2023」水中ロボット競技会では、水中での競技とゴミ回収の実演、そしてプロダクトのプレゼンテーションを行い、ベストプレゼンテーション賞を受賞しました。

初心者用プログラミングツールのスクラッチを用いることで、子どもたちはロボットの操作やカメラの確認が簡単にできるようになっています。これにより、プログラミング初心者でも容易にロボットを動かすことができ、子どもたちに自然の美しさや生態系を体験する機会を提供します。

結論として、「海神ちょふ」は次世代教育の一環として子どもたちにものづくりと自然体験を提供し、環境保全の重要性を伝える有効なツールです。

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Marie Planchard

Senior Director, Early Engagement, 3DEXPERIENCE Works at Dassault Systemes

Marie Planchard is an education and engineering advocate. As Senior Director of Education & Early Engagement, SOLIDWORKS, she is responsible for global development of content and social outreach for the 3DEXPERIENCE Works products across all levels of learning including educational institutions, Fab Labs, and entrepreneurship.