WHAT IS AN ROV?

A Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) is essentially an underwater robot that allows the vehicle's operator to remain in a comfortable environment while the ROV works in the hazardous environment below. The total ROV system is comprised of the vehicle, which is connected to the control van and the operators on the surface by an umbilical cable, a handling system to control the cable dynamics, a launch system (such as the A-frame shown in the photo to the right) and associated power supplies. The umbilical carries the power and the command and control signals to the vehicle and the status and sensory data back to the operators topside. In many cases, the umbilical includes additional strength members to allow recovery of heavy devices or wreckage.

ROVs can vary in size from small vehicles with TVs for simple observation up to complex work systems, which can have several dexterous manipulators, TV's, video cameras, tools and other equipment. The range of ROV sizes is shown in the photo below, where several classes of Perry Tritech's vehicles are displayed along with a top hat handling system (cage to right). The mechanism of the top hat handling system, which contains deployable neutrally buoyant cable for local excursions, can be easily seen in the photo above. Such handling techniques allow the heavy umbilical to remain vertical in the water column while the ROV maneuvers with the smaller cable, free of the surface dynamics, which in many cases, can pull the ROV from its work station.

Today, advanced technology is allowing many ROVs to shed their cable, and thus become free to roam the ocean with out such physical constraints. These emerging systems, which are battery operated, are called autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and are used for ocean search and oceanographic research.