ROV is a remotely-controlled (uninhabited) underwater vehicle that can be used for rescue operations, search operations, cutting and lifting large objects from the bottom, studying a reservoir for both scientific, archaeological and personal purposes. In addition, ROV is used to check the serviceability of oil and gas complex facilities (inspection of complex underwater structures and gas pipeline routes for breakdowns), as well as to check the serviceability of city communications.

SmartDive ROV

According to their dimensions and weight, ROVs are usually divided into five types: micro, mini, light, medium and heavy.

The first includes devices with a mass of less than 5 kilograms. ROV is a universal device endowed with a number of useful functions and tools and controlled remotely. Ultralight devices are most often purchased by customers as a new entertainment: to see what is at the bottom of the ocean. But in fact, ROVs of this class are capable of descending a maximum of 100 meters: they are intended for inspection work at shallow depths. Attachments for these devices are not widely represented due to their small weight and compact size. But these devices are easy to transport and can always be kept at hand.

The developers and manufacturers of this type of underwater vehicles are now Chasing Innovation from China with their most popular models Chasing M2 and Gladius Mini S and another Chinese company QYSEA. The smallest models from this manufacturer are FIFISH V6, FIFISH V6S and FIFISH V6 EXPERT.

Fifish V6

Mini ROVs (from 5 to 30 kg) are produced by the SmartDive, ROVbuilder and BlueRobotics. ROVs of this class are capable of descending to a depth of 300 meters. They can be equipped with more complex and heavy attachments: a manipulator, sonar, additional cameras, a metal detector, and various sensors.

BlueRobotics BlueROV-2

Using the video broadcast from the device, the operator can find various objects under water, as well as to inspect bridge supports, hydraulic structures, ship bottoms, fishing nets and much more.

ROVs of light class (30-100 kg) are a technique with which you can more thoroughly study the bottom of a reservoir up to 500 meters deep and work in the course, as with other ROVs of all types. But the larger the ROV, the easier it is to operate it when working in such conditions. These devices can be used to inspect the structures of underwater oil rigs, pipelines and other offshore infrastructures. Also, light ROVs are effective for search and rescue operations and can be used by search groups: police, rescuers, emergency response teams.

The British company Saab Seaeye Limited is developing electric underwater robotic systems of medium type (100-2000 kg). Models of ROVs from this manufacturer - Tiger and Lynx - belong to this class: they weigh 150 and 200 kilograms, respectively. Working equipment is usually equipped with a number of useful devices for performing complex tasks underwater: tools for drilling, lowering and raising equipment or heavy objects, an echo sounder for mapping the bottom. Such devices are controlled by a group of people.

Saab Seaeye Lynx

ROV TRITON XLX 150HP by the American company Perry Tritech belongs to the type of heavy (from 2000 kg) remote-controlled uninhabited underwater vehicles. This model is a powerful, technically complex and expensive equipment that allows you to perform various types of work at a depth of up to 3000 meters with the use of additional attachment systems. Optionally, manipulators, additional cameras, sensors, sonars and much more can be placed on the device. Not every ship is suitable for transporting such a ROV. To control a heavy-class underwater vehicle, specialists of a wide class are needed.

Triton XLX 150HP

Now, ROVs from SmartDive company help to perform various tasks at depths of up to 150 meters. Further, we plan to increase the maximum depth of the Smartdive ROV to 300 meters.

The importance of ROV development is that underwater vehicles allow divers to plan dives better and safer than the classical practice of exploration diving. With modern capabilities, dive site surveys and planning are done with ROVs, followed by a series of dives. This saves time and resources, increases the safety of underwater work for divers.

ROV can go to places which are difficult or impossible for a person to reach.