Structure:
Frame:
This is the basis of the structure and the first item that is built when putting together an ROV. All of the equipment will be attached to this so it is crucial that this is designed lightly yet sturdily. Frames can be made form hard plastics, aluminum, and many other sturdy building materials that hold up well in water and under pressure. The frame should be as light as it possibly can while not being to light that everything mounted to it will not harm the integrity of it. The size of the frame can be large or small. It depends on what needs to be put onto the ROV. For this ROV thrusters, buoyancy control, a camera, and a mechanical arm are all that will be put onto it so it will not be large (Work).
All of the important components that will be added to the ROV will be attached to a base that firmly attached to the frame. Many items can be used for this base and there are several common ways to attach it to the frame. A hard plastic mesh is a simple basic base that can easily be cut to the shape required for the ROV. This can be zip tied to the frame; it can be clamped with brackets and screws also. Other bases can be anything that is solid, waterproof, and thin so that components such as the thrusters can be mounted to it, as well as the housing for the electrical components (Rollette).
Maneuverability:
Bilge Pumps:
Bilge pumps are generally used on boats to pump water out of the bilge and other areas of the boat where water doesn’t drain naturally. They suck water through the bottom of their shaft and it is forced out through a smaller hole on the top or side of the pump. They are run electrically and do not use a large sizable amount of current if they are small. These used on a small light vehicle could push it smoothly through the water. Several of these angled properly on an ROV would be able to give the craft the ability to move up, down, forwards, backwards, and spin (Veirs).
Motor and Propeller:
The motor and propeller is another simple way to maneuver an ROV. Popularly seen on airplanes, a motor and propeller used for an ROV such as this is much smaller. A watertight housing area for the motor is also required in this design to shield the motor from water because this too is electrically run; otherwise the motor would short-circuit the moment running while in the water. This housing can be airtight or filled with oil depending on the motor in use. A pressure resistant housing would be cheaper and more sensible for this ROV. Motors used for an ROV can range from very small, such as a model aircraft, to a large motor used in a cooling unit (Work).
Flotation/Buoyancy:
Neutral Buoyancy:
When a craft is in a body of water, it either floats, sinks, or is neutrally buoyant. In the case of an ROV, it is preferred to have the ROV at neutral buoyancy. This allows the thrusters to not over work themselves trying to keep the vehicle form either rising to the surface or sinking to the bottom. When a craft is neutrally buoyant it is much easier to pilot.
Other:
Surface Equipment:
While the ROV is busy at work underwater it must be controlled by a human above the water. In order to do this a monitor is need in order to see what the ROV is seeing through the video camera. A power supply is needed in order to run the ROV. Because the ROV will be run by electricity it will need to be plugged in, extension cords will be needed due to the possibility of an electrical outlet not being local to the diving area (Work).
“Umbilical Cord:”
This is the cable that carries all of the power to the ROV, all of the information to the video monitor, and all of the inputs and controls to the ROV. This must be waterproof, flexible, and long enough for the ROV to move freely (Work).
Housing:
This is a crucial part of the ROV in which all of the electrical inputs come and video output leaves. It also is the part of the ROV where the thrusters can be mounted. If your ROV has lights as well as the video camera on it they can be mounted on this also. This housing should be waterproof to protect the electrical equipment. The thrusters, cameras, and other parts can be mounted on the outside of the housing for the ROV (Work).
Control:
The ROV must be controlled at the surface by a human. The ROV must have a control panel along with the monitor to make the ROV do what is wanted of it. The propulsion should have controls in order to move it open and down in the water, forwards and backwards, and a control to make it spin. Sometimes it is suggested that the camera has an ability to move. If so there needs to be a control for this function also (Work).
Rollette, Jason. Underwater ROV submarine camera version 2. 2005. 2 September 2007. http://www.rollette.com/rovrev2/
Frame:
This is the basis of the structure and the first item that is built when putting together an ROV. All of the equipment will be attached to this so it is crucial that this is designed lightly yet sturdily. Frames can be made form hard plastics, aluminum, and many other sturdy building materials that hold up well in water and under pressure. The frame should be as light as it possibly can while not being to light that everything mounted to it will not harm the integrity of it. The size of the frame can be large or small. It depends on what needs to be put onto the ROV. For this ROV thrusters, buoyancy control, a camera, and a mechanical arm are all that will be put onto it so it will not be large (Work).
All of the important components that will be added to the ROV will be attached to a base that firmly attached to the frame. Many items can be used for this base and there are several common ways to attach it to the frame. A hard plastic mesh is a simple basic base that can easily be cut to the shape required for the ROV. This can be zip tied to the frame; it can be clamped with brackets and screws also. Other bases can be anything that is solid, waterproof, and thin so that components such as the thrusters can be mounted to it, as well as the housing for the electrical components (Rollette).
Maneuverability:
Bilge Pumps:
Bilge pumps are generally used on boats to pump water out of the bilge and other areas of the boat where water doesn’t drain naturally. They suck water through the bottom of their shaft and it is forced out through a smaller hole on the top or side of the pump. They are run electrically and do not use a large sizable amount of current if they are small. These used on a small light vehicle could push it smoothly through the water. Several of these angled properly on an ROV would be able to give the craft the ability to move up, down, forwards, backwards, and spin (Veirs).
Motor and Propeller:
The motor and propeller is another simple way to maneuver an ROV. Popularly seen on airplanes, a motor and propeller used for an ROV such as this is much smaller. A watertight housing area for the motor is also required in this design to shield the motor from water because this too is electrically run; otherwise the motor would short-circuit the moment running while in the water. This housing can be airtight or filled with oil depending on the motor in use. A pressure resistant housing would be cheaper and more sensible for this ROV. Motors used for an ROV can range from very small, such as a model aircraft, to a large motor used in a cooling unit (Work).
Flotation/Buoyancy:
Neutral Buoyancy:
When a craft is in a body of water, it either floats, sinks, or is neutrally buoyant. In the case of an ROV, it is preferred to have the ROV at neutral buoyancy. This allows the thrusters to not over work themselves trying to keep the vehicle form either rising to the surface or sinking to the bottom. When a craft is neutrally buoyant it is much easier to pilot.
Other:
Surface Equipment:
While the ROV is busy at work underwater it must be controlled by a human above the water. In order to do this a monitor is need in order to see what the ROV is seeing through the video camera. A power supply is needed in order to run the ROV. Because the ROV will be run by electricity it will need to be plugged in, extension cords will be needed due to the possibility of an electrical outlet not being local to the diving area (Work).
“Umbilical Cord:”
This is the cable that carries all of the power to the ROV, all of the information to the video monitor, and all of the inputs and controls to the ROV. This must be waterproof, flexible, and long enough for the ROV to move freely (Work).
Housing:
This is a crucial part of the ROV in which all of the electrical inputs come and video output leaves. It also is the part of the ROV where the thrusters can be mounted. If your ROV has lights as well as the video camera on it they can be mounted on this also. This housing should be waterproof to protect the electrical equipment. The thrusters, cameras, and other parts can be mounted on the outside of the housing for the ROV (Work).
Control:
The ROV must be controlled at the surface by a human. The ROV must have a control panel along with the monitor to make the ROV do what is wanted of it. The propulsion should have controls in order to move it open and down in the water, forwards and backwards, and a control to make it spin. Sometimes it is suggested that the camera has an ability to move. If so there needs to be a control for this function also (Work).
Works Cited
Rollette, Jason. Underwater ROV submarine camera version 2. 2005. 2 September 2007. http://www.rollette.com/rovrev2/
Veirs, Scott. ROV Parts list and approximate costs. 2001. 1 September 2007. http://www.ocean.washington.edu/people/grads/scottv/exploraquarium/rov/home
Work Ocean. 1995. 1 September 2007.
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