FREE Robotics Animations and Educational Resources!
From April 4-12, 2026, we’re celebrating National Robotics Week! Here at Ocean Exploration Trust, the field of robotics is essential to our goals of pushing the boundaries of scientific exploration and technological innovation in our world’s oceans. We use our remotely-operated-vehicles (ROVs) Hercules, Little Hercules, and Atalanta to explore the unknown- often alongside other partner organizations that also rely on robotics.
In this blog, we’re highlighting some of our FREE educational resources featuring robotics, including teaching animations, lesson plans, and science experiments!
Start here with our YouTube playlist “Highlights: E/V Nautilus & ROV Operations” to learn all about our use of robotics to explore the deep sea.
Next, we invite you to watch some of these Teaching Animations to explain some important robotics concepts.
Ready for more? Below are some of our favorite teaching resources, lesson plans, and science experiments that any robotic-loving student or future explorer can access! These were designed are for various age groups but can be adjusted for any learner!
- Give Hercules a Helping Claw (also available in Spanish)
- Design Rubberband-Powered Thrusters (also available in Spanish)
- Design an ROV Suction Sampler (also available in Spanish)
- Learn about Sacrificial Anodes (also available in Spanish)
- Build Your Own ROVs with Legos Etc.
- Design a Robot (Observational)
- Build a Neutrally Buoyant Vehicle (also available in Spanish)
- Learn about 3D Printing at-Sea
- Become an Ocean Exploration Team (also available in Spanish)
- Learn about ROV Tools
- Build a LEGO ROV Hercules
- Build a Small-Scale Hydraulic Robot Arm
