Design and Testing of Mini ROV-ITB

Abstract

As the continuity of Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) research, we have been developing the small size of underwater vehicle [1]. Commercially this vehicle was known with Remotely operated vehicle (ROV). This vehicle have dimension (LxWxH) 490mmx410mmx320mm with weight on air around 7 kg. Total buoyancy of this vehicle construction around 8 kg. So we still have spare 1 kg buoyancy for payload. The maximum operating depth of this vehicle designed at maximum 30 meters of Salt water. Main construction of this vehicle is from Composite that’s have strength enough to hold all external load and forces. This mini ROV categorized as small observation ROV that’s just have camera and underwater lamp to observe underwater site and also as main navigation tools for pilot to operate this vehicle. In order to propelled this vehicle, we have attached three brushless DC Electric underwater thruster with capacity 200 Watt. This vehicle controlled by pilot on surface station via umbilical cable. The communication between vehicle and surface station used RS-485 standard communication. Remotely operated underwater vehicles are progressively more used for routine inspection and maintenance tasks. The most application that we have designed before was for ship hull inspection. Marine growth and cathodic protection anode inspection is the main task for this ROV on ship hull Maintenance. But with the additional payload like small manipulator can increased the task that’s it can handle, likes collecting sample and cutting rope. Step by step design process until preliminary testing maneuver on pool will be described in this paper.