Remotely operated underwater vehicle facts for kids
A Remotely Operated Vehicle (often called an ROV) is like an underwater robot. It can move freely in the water without a human pilot inside. ROVs are used for many important jobs deep under the sea. They can look closely at things (observation), check for problems (inspection), and even do physical tasks. For example, they can turn valves, use special tools, or connect parts underwater. These amazing robots help with scientific research, military tasks, and exploring for oil and gas. They can go to depths where it's too dangerous or impossible for human divers or even most submersibles.
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How ROVs Work Underwater
ROVs are special because they are built just for the ocean. Underwater, there's extreme pressure, it's often very dark, and strong currents can push things around. Unlike remote control cars or drones that use wireless signals, ROVs stay connected to a ship or platform with a long cable called a tether. This tether sends power to the ROV and carries video and data back to the operators. Wireless signals don't work well underwater, so the tether is super important for reliable communication.
ROVs don't have people inside them. A team controls them from a ship or from land. They are very common in industries that work deep in the ocean, like finding and getting oil and gas. The tether helps the ROV move around. Sometimes, a special "tether management system" (TMS) is used. This system is like a garage for the ROV. It helps feed out or pull in the tether, so strong underwater currents don't pull the ROV off course.
The main cable, or umbilical, is very strong. It has wires for electricity and fiber optic cables for sending information. This powers the ROV and all its tools. For powerful tasks, electricity runs a motor that powers a hydraulic pump. This pump then moves the ROV and its robotic arms.
Most ROVs have at least a video camera and bright lights. But they can carry many other tools too! These might include sonar (which uses sound to "see"), magnetometers (to find metal objects), still cameras, robotic arms for grabbing or cutting, and sensors to measure things like water temperature, clarity, and how fast sound travels.
Different Types of ROVs
ROVs come in many sizes and have different abilities. They are usually grouped into categories based on how big they are, how much they weigh, and what kind of work they can do.
- Micro ROVs: These are super small and light, sometimes weighing less than 3 kilograms (about 6.6 pounds). They can go into tiny spaces where a human diver can't fit, like inside pipes or small caves.
- Mini ROVs: A bit larger, these might weigh around 15 kilograms (about 33 pounds). One person can often carry and use a Mini ROV system from a small boat. Both Micro and Mini ROVs are sometimes called "eyeball" class because they are mainly for looking and observing.
- General ROVs: These are a step up, often used for basic surveys. They can carry tools like sonar and usually work in depths less than 1,000 meters (about 3,300 feet). Some special ones can go much deeper!
- Inspection Class ROVs: These are tough robots used by businesses to gather information and inspect things. They have good cameras, sonar, and can even have small robotic arms for light tasks.
- Light Workclass ROVs: These are stronger and can carry more tools, including robotic arms. They are often made from strong plastics and can work down to about 2,000 meters (about 6,500 feet).
- Heavy Workclass ROVs: These are very powerful, with strong robotic arms for difficult jobs. They can work at depths up to 3,500 meters (about 11,500 feet) and need a lot of strength and skill.
- Trenching & Burial ROVs: These are the biggest and most powerful. They are used for heavy-duty tasks like laying cables on the seafloor. Some can work as deep as 6,000 meters (about 20,000 feet).
Some ROVs swim freely from the ship, while others operate from a heavy "garage" that is lowered into the water first. This "garage" helps protect the ROV and manage its tether, especially for very deep work.
The Story of ROVs
The idea for ROVs started a long time ago. In the 1950s, the Royal Navy used an early ROV called "Cutlet" to find and retrieve practice torpedoes and mines.
In the 1960s, the U.S. Navy helped develop early ROV technology. They created a "Cable-Controlled Underwater Recovery Vehicle" (CURV). This vehicle helped with deep-sea rescue missions and recovered important objects from the ocean floor. For example, it helped recover a lost object from the Mediterranean Sea in 1966.
Later, the oil and gas industry started using ROVs. They needed robots to help build and maintain underwater oil fields, especially as they explored deeper parts of the ocean where human divers couldn't go. By the 1980s, ROVs became super important for this work.
Over the years, ROV technology has gotten much better. Today, ROVs do many different jobs, from checking underwater pipes to connecting large structures. They are used for building new underwater sites and for fixing things that break. Smaller ROVs are also now used in shallower waters, making them cheaper and faster to use.
ROVs have also helped find many famous shipwrecks. These include the RMS Titanic, the Bismarck, and the SS Central America. In some cases, ROVs have even helped bring artifacts from these shipwrecks to the surface. For example, in July 2024, an expedition used an ROV to recover items from the Titanic for the first time using a magnetometer.
While the oil and gas industry uses many ROVs, these robots are also vital for science, military tasks, and finding lost items.
How ROVs Are Built
Work-class ROVs are built with a strong aluminum frame. On top, they have a large flotation pack, often made from a special foam. This helps the ROV float and stay stable underwater. Heavy parts are placed at the bottom, creating a good balance for working deep in the ocean.
Powerful thrusters (like underwater propellers) are placed carefully to help the ROV move in any direction. They allow the robot to stay steady even in strong currents.
The electrical parts of an ROV are kept safe in special waterproof compartments. These compartments are either filled with oil or kept at normal air pressure. This protects the electronics from seawater and the crushing pressure of the deep ocean.
Every ROV has thrusters, cameras, lights, and a frame. It also has controls for the pilot. Depending on the job, more tools can be added. These might include robotic arms for grabbing or cutting. It's common for ROVs to have two robotic arms, each with different types of grippers. Cameras are often protected to prevent damage from bumps.
Smaller ROVs can have very different designs, depending on what they need to do. Larger ROVs are usually launched and recovered from ships.
ROV Shapes and Designs
ROVs come in a few main shapes, and each shape has its own strengths and weaknesses:
- Open or Box Frame ROVs: This is the most common design. It looks like an open cage or box, with all the cameras, thrusters, and tools inside. These ROVs are great for swimming freely and doing many different jobs, especially in light currents. Most of the powerful Work-Class ROVs have this design.
- Torpedo Shaped ROVs: These ROVs look like a torpedo. Their smooth, streamlined shape helps them move through the water very easily and quickly. This design is often used for gathering data or inspecting long areas. However, they can be harder to control at very slow speeds. They are sometimes called "Tow Fish" because they are often towed behind a ship.
Staying Connected: The ROV Tether
Every ROV needs a tether or umbilical cable to connect it to the surface. This cable is super important because it sends power to the ROV and carries all the data and video back to the operators.
The tether's size and weight are carefully chosen. If it's too big, it can create too much drag in the water, making the ROV harder to move. If it's too small, it might not be strong enough.
Often, the tether is managed by a "tether management system" (TMS). This system spools the cable in and out, preventing it from getting tangled. It can also act like a winch to lower or bring up the ROV.
What ROVs Are Used For
Exploring and Mapping the Ocean
Survey or inspection ROVs are usually smaller. They help map the seafloor and locate underwater structures. They are also used to inspect things like pipelines, oil platforms, and the hulls of ships. These ROVs often have powerful cameras, sonar, and other sensors to collect detailed information.
Helping Human Divers
ROVs can work alongside human divers. For safety reasons, a diving supervisor oversees both the divers and the ROV. ROVs can help divers by providing extra light, carrying tools, or checking areas that might be too risky for a person. They are also used in Submarine rescue operations.
ROVs in Movies and TV
As cameras and sensors have improved, ROVs have become popular with filmmakers. They can reach deep, dangerous, or tight spaces that divers can't. ROVs can stay underwater for a very long time, capturing amazing footage. They have been used in many documentaries, like Nat Geo's Shark Men and the BBC's Spy in the Huddle. You might also see ROVs in crime shows, as police and coast guard services use them.
Building Your Own ROV
Many people are interested in the ocean, and ROVs have become a fun hobby! It's now easier to get the parts to build small ROVs. Hobbyists often build their robots from simple materials like PVC pipes. These small ROVs can usually dive to depths between 15 to 30 meters (50 to 100 feet), but some have gone even deeper!
ROVs for Ocean Science
ROVs are incredibly important for scientists who study the ocean. They have helped discover and study many deep-sea animals and other organisms in their natural homes. For example, scientists have used ROVs to learn about jellyfish like Stellamedusa ventana and eel-like halosaurs.
Leading oceanographic institutions around the world use ROVs for cutting-edge research. The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research uses ROVs to study Arctic and Antarctic sea ice. They measure ice thickness, how much light passes through, and collect samples of water and sediments.
Since good video is key for deep-sea research, science ROVs have powerful lighting and high-quality cameras. They also carry special sampling tools and sensors. Many of these tools are unique, designed to work in the extreme conditions of the deep ocean. Science ROVs also use technology from commercial ROVs, like hydraulic robotic arms and accurate navigation systems. They are also used for underwater archaeology projects, like exploring ancient shipwrecks.
Some famous scientific ROVs include MBARI's Tiburon, WHOI's Jason, and URI/IFE's Hercules. These advanced robots have made huge contributions to our understanding of the deep sea.
Learning with ROVs
ROVs are also used to help students learn about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
The SeaPerch program provides kits for elementary, middle, and high school students to build their own simple ROVs. Students learn about ship design and ocean engineering. This program is supported by the Office of Naval Research.
Another great example is the Mardi Gras Shipwreck Project. An ROV was used to explore a shipwreck that sank 200 years ago in the Gulf of Mexico. This project, led by Texas A&M University, recovered artifacts for public display. Video from the ROV was used in a documentary called Mystery Mardi Gras Shipwreck to teach people about the discovery.
The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center uses ROVs to teach students about ocean careers. MATE hosts an annual student ROV competition where teams from around the world design and build their own ROVs. These competitions challenge students with realistic underwater missions, helping them develop valuable technical skills.
Many other competitions, like NURC (National Underwater Robotics Challenge) and RoboSub, also encourage students to build and compete with ROVs. Most hobby ROVs are tested in pools or lakes, but some brave builders even test them in the sea!
ROVs in the Military
ROVs have been used by navies for many years, mainly for finding and dealing with underwater mines.
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The U.S. Navy uses a modular system called SRDRS for submarine rescue. This system includes a tethered, occupied ROV called a pressurized rescue module (PRM). They also use the uncrewed Sibitzky ROV to survey disabled submarines.
The US Navy also uses an ROV called the AN/SLQ-48 Mine Neutralization Vehicle (MNV) for mine warfare. This ROV can travel far from the ship and go very deep. It has different tools to deal with underwater mines, such as cable cutters or special explosive charges to neutralize them safely.
Smaller inspection class ROVs are also being used more by navies, coast guards, and port authorities worldwide. These military-grade ROVs help with tasks like safely removing dangerous objects, checking ports, and gathering information underwater. For example, the Norwegian Navy used a Blueye Pioneer underwater drone to inspect the ship Helge Ingstad.
See also
- Autonomous underwater vehicle
- Helix Energy Solutions Group
- Subsea technology
- Underwater acoustic positioning system
- UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage
- Robotic non-destructive testing
- Radio-controlled submarine
- Unmanned underwater vehicle
