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This is a floating/diving bot I call Octobot. I built it for several reasons. The first, being whimsey. The silicon bait worms that are used as tentacles give a very life like movement to the bot as it dives and even when it's just floating. The tips are lead weights that give the tentacles a slight negative buoyance so they hang down loosely in the water, yet can move on the slightest current. When the bot dives, the tentacles move upward slowly. As it hits bottom, they come back down, turning in a slow spiral due to inertial rotation. When the engine resets, it slowly rises to the surface to recharge. Another design element used in this bot is an inverted Aquapod drive unit. This proved important to diving bots as the prop can push the bot down rather than pull it. Pulling the bot down eventually pulls the prop free and is less dependable. And lastly, a more thorough method of venting all of the internal spaces was used to allow a large container of desicant to keep the electronics as well as the motor free of any condensed moisture. Only time will tell if it works. A standard 1381-J solar engine and a 1F cap make this bot dive a good 10-15 feet on a good pop. The sacrifice is about a 3 minute wait in full sun. Eventually, I hope to make aquarium versions that dive only 2 feet or so and are much more active.

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