Once we completed building our sailboat, we had planed to build
an ROV with side scan sonar that could be towed behind. Having a ROV
already in the water means sonar targets can quickly be visually
inspected. It's an idea that also came from a
marine archaeologist doing work in the Black Sea.
Project Lead: Doug Jackson,
svseeker@ymail.com 918-630-4050 If you'd like to provide
some input, just write call, or join and post to our FaceBook group:
SVSeeker
Skype account: SVSeeker
Specifications
Description: An streamlined mini ROV towed behind a side
scan sonar to conduct visual inspections of interesting sonar
targets.
Mission: This is an open source development project with the
goal of being deployed in the Black Sea
Duty Cycle: 10% duty cycle, a maximum of 1 hour actual
operation during a 10 hour-day operation.
Towing: ROV will trail other towed gear by a tether of 100
meters (300 feet). At positions of interest, the vessel will stop,
as well as the leading sensor block, and the ROV will go to either
port or starboard to investigate points of interest that will be at
a distance of less than 100 meters on each side. Towing speed up to
3.5 knots.
Tether: 100 meters, preferably less than 5 mm, between ROV
and leading sensors.Tether attaches to tail of the ROV, which will
have camera port pointing stern while the ship is under way. ROV
will be only used for initial imaging. If necessary, and the target
proves to be of great interest, larger and more capable ROV's will
be deployed at a later date to have more thorough study of the
location. Length from leading sensor to boat is 900 (2,700 feet)
meters, connecting it to the Bodrum. A single twisted pair will be
utilized for communication and lo-res video transfer for length of
3,000 feet.
Thrusters: Brushless, likely pressure compensated (oil
filled) and as small as possible. Able to push at maximum speed of 1
knot. Vertical thruster even smaller and required to raise the ROV
10 or 20 feet maximum from the seabed. Inexpensive solutions
preferred. Plan is to have at least half a dozen ready to install
spare thrusters on board, with at least 20 motors, ESC's etc. spares
ready to be installed into thrusters on deck, ready to be deployed.
Power: Batteries, probably Lithium. Easy change on deck
desired. Design capacity of 1 hour of operation.
Imaging: HD camera on ROV recording on SD, while live low res
is streamed to the Bodrum. 320 x 240 @ 5 fpm is acceptable. Even in
B&W is fine, if bandwidth is limited. Tether of 3,000 feet, which
also carries the control signals will be the limiting factor.
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