The Elektra ROV at Trondheim Maker Faire

This post is coming to you live from Maker Faire Trondheim being held in the town square here in Trondheim, Norway.

Elektra, a group of high school engineering students from HiST Sør-Trøndelag University College here in Trondheim, has a history with ROVs. One of the two projects they brought to last year’s faire was an ROV. But this year’s ROV is one of the most advanced I’ve seen at a Maker Faire.

The ROV has a central cylinder with a custom built observation bubble at the front housing a steerable camera, flanked on either side by two floatation cylinders where the six propellers are mounted, along with the forward facing lights.

We talked with Thea Hjelmseth Ottesen and Sindre Mokkelbost from the Elektra about the ROV and their future plans for the build. Plans which include putting it into the water for the first time this Friday as, while the engines have been tested underwater, the whole build has yet to be submerged.

After the maiden voyage on Friday plans include hooking the steerable camera up to an Oculus Rift to provide a full tele presence experience for the controllers of the ROV.

The Trondheim Maker Faire is being held in the in the Trondheim town square on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th of August — between 10am and 4pm and is free to attend. There will also be seminars, lectures, and other smaller events at other locations throughout the city.