Back to: WebQuest and Digital Breakouts Compendium on STEM enhancement for pupils
Robotics is revolutionising industries and transforming everyday life. One very important use of robotics is helping people during natural disasters. When earthquakes, floods, underwater landslides, or shipwrecks happen, it can be too dangerous for humans to go underwater. This is where underwater robots, called ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles), are used.
ROVs can explore the sea floor after earthquakes or tsunamis, check damaged bridges and ports after storms, search for wrecks, and help scientists understand what has changed under the water. They are also used to monitor pollution and protect marine life after disasters.
Scenario
You are a team of young marine engineers. A marine research and rescue centre needs your help. They want to design an underwater robot that can be used during or after a natural disaster to explore the sea safely and help people make good decisions.
Before building a real robot, the engineers will test their ideas using a micro:bit to design and programme a simple control and safety system.
Your mission
Working in a team, you will:
- design an underwater robot (ROV),
- programme a micro:bit to control it and send safety messages,
- explain how your robot helps people during or after a natural disaster.
Key words
robot, ROV, natural disaster, earthquake, flood, sensor, programme, buoyancy, environment, teamwork
By the end of this WebQuest, your team must complete the following mission:
Choose a natural disaster scenario
Your team will choose one underwater disaster situation:
- earthquake under the sea
- strong storm or flood near the coast
- underwater landslide
- shipwreck or damaged port
- tsounami
- flood
Design an underwater robot (ROV)
Create a labelled drawing (or model) of an ROV that can help:
explore damaged underwater areas
collect important information
keep humans safe
clean the debris
Programme a micro:bit control system
Build a simple MakeCode programme that:
controls the robot (buttons)
shows clear messages or warnings
includes an emergency or safety feature
Link to MakeCode: https://makecode.microbit.org
Prepare a short team presentation (2–3 minutes)
Your presentation must explain:
the disaster you chose
how your robot helps in that situation
what your micro:bit programme does
You must work as a team and make sure everyone has a role
Step 1: Learn about underwater robots
First, find out what underwater robots (ROVs) are and what they are used for.
Focus on:
- what ROVs look like
- how they move underwater
- why humans use them instead of divers
Use these resources:
- Science Museum UK – Robots in real life
https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/robots
- How do ROVs work? (video)
- Underwater Robotics: How It Works and Examples
https://builtin.com/articles/underwater-robotics
Outcome:
Write 3 facts about underwater robots (ROVs).
Step 2: ROVs and natural disasters
Underwater robots are very important during and after natural disasters.
Find out how ROVs help when earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, or storms affect the sea.
Focus on:
- why it is dangerous for humans to go underwater after disasters
- what kind of information robots collect
- how robots help people make safe decisions
Use these resources:
- How Robots Are Uncovering the Mysteries of the Deep (NOAA)
https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explainers/technology/ - Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles in Rescue Services
https://smartdive.com/blog/rescue
- Use an ROV for better investigation of flood damage
- Tsunamis: The Effects
https://www.sms-tsunami-warning.com/pages/tsunami-effects
Outcome:
Write 2 sentences explaining how ROVs help during or after natural disasters.
Step 3: Plan your robot mission
- National Geographic Kids – Save our Oceans https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/home-is-good/save-the-ocean/
- WWF UK – Protecting the oceans https://www.wwf.org.uk/get-involved/schools/oceans-and-plastics
- Improving Offshore Operations with ROVs
https://www.deeptrekker.com/resources/offshore-operations
- Tsunami Aftermath: Water, debris, and pollution
https://www.aquasana.com/info/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-tsunami-far-away-pd.html
Outcome:
A short mission description (4–5 sentences) explaining:
- the problem
- how the robot helps
Step 4: Design the robot
Design your underwater robot.
Draw it clearly and label:
- body shape
- movement (propellers, arms, fins)
- tools or sensors
Think about:
- floating and sinking
- moving through water
- stability underwater
Use these resources:
- Science Sparks – Floating and sinking experiments
- https://www.science-sparks.com/#search/q=floating
- Build a Simple Underwater Robot (Science Buddies)
- Bioinspired soft robots for deep-sea exploration: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-42882-3
- Aquanaut – Example of a real underwater robot
https://robotsguide.com/robots/aquanaut
Outcome:
A labelled robot drawing, with one short explanation per part.
Step 5: micro:bit control and coding
You will now create a simple micro:bit programme to control the movement of your underwater robot (ROV).
Your micro:bit will act as the control unit of the robot.
Your programme must:
- Button A → move FORWARD
- Button B → move BACKWARD
- Buttons A + B together → DIVE (go deeper)
The movement will be shown using:
- words on the LED display (FORWARD / BACK / DIVE), or
- arrows and symbols (your choice)
(Optional: add a warning sound or emergency message.)
What to think about
- Why is it important for an underwater robot to move forward and backward?
- Why is diving carefully important during a natural disaster?
- How does the micro:bit help humans control the robot safely?
Use these resources:
- micro:bit – MakeCode editor https://makecode.microbit.org/
- micro:bit lessons – Buttons and LEDs https://microbit.org/teach/lessons/
- micro:bit classroom tutorials https://microbit.org/teach/
Outcome:
A working micro:bit programme that:
- shows FORWARD when Button A is pressed
- shows BACK when Button B is pressed
- shows DIVE (or a down arrow) when A + B are pressed
A short explanation (3–4 sentences) describing:
- what each button does
- why these movements are useful during or after a natural disaster
Well done! During this WebQuest, you worked as a team of young engineers to explore how underwater robots (ROVs) can help people during and after natural disasters. You learned how robots can go where it is too dangerous for humans and collect important information to keep people and the environment safe. You designed your own underwater robot, thought carefully about movement and safety, and created a micro:bit programme to control forward movement, backward movement, and diving. You also practised teamwork, problem-solving, and clear communication, which are important skills for everyday life.
Take a moment to reflect:
- What new thing did you learn about robotics or natural disasters?
- What part of your team work went well?
- What would you change or improve if you had more time?