Remotely Operated Vehicles
ROVs are tools used to help conduct undersea research. They're operated remotely from the surface or from a submersible and are commonly used in situations when scuba diving is not feasible due to depth and time limitations or when expensive manned submersibles are not cost effective.
They come in many sizes, shapes, and designs. Some ROVs are built to perform specific purposes while others are general purpose with extra payload and power (electric or hydraulic) capabilities to accommodate various tools.
The center's ROV operations are primarily supported using the Spectrum II built by Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc. Spectrum II, used independently and in support of wet-diving and submersible operations, is capable of diving to depths of 300 meters. Standard equipment includes: color and low-light video cameras; an instrument package with real-time surface readout (measuring such oceanographic parameters as conductivity, temperature, depth, light transmission, and oxygen); and a manipulator arm with sampling attachments (such as a claw and water and sediment samplers). A tracking system provides geographic and relative position information during operations.
