Today, I tested a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) in a local lake. So this post is going to be something different for RobotNext. I recommend this project for anyone who wants to try out an underwater robot. Technically speaking, this is not a robot as such. It is a remotely operated vehicle controlled by a tether to a control box and power on the surface. This vehicle was constructed in less than two days in a total of about twelve hours. Using the ROV in a Box from !nventivity, our teachers’ group at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Texas built three of these machines. All I can say is that it was a blast.
In the video taken from my phone, you can see the robot powering around and then diving under the water. There will be more testing of these ROVs in weeks to come. Also, look at the photos of my ROV on the edge of the water. Not bad for a two day effort.
Video Credit: Mike Henry
Here is a photo of the ROV on the edge of the lake. Note the blue pool noodles used as flotation devices to keep the robot at neutral buoyancy.
Photo Credit: Mike Henry
Note the black cylinder object at the back of the ROV. That is a color camera and below it is a 10 led light to illuminate features in the water. Images can be seen on a television screen. The three motors have propellers and give power and control in 3 directions.
Photo Credit: Mike Henry
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