Consumer ROV underwater drone in UK ?

[jamie N]

Many of these ROV state that they're capable of up to 3kts, and indeed they are when they're on the surface. However, when they get to any sort of depth, with any amount of tether cable out, they're down to a max of, say .5kt, and they've lost dynamic stability, meaning that the drag on the tether is basically controlling the ROV, the ROV being entirely unbalanced with a comensurate loss of video stability and survey quality. To overcome this, the only way is to have mass, which can be either the actual material mass from the weight of the ROV, or captive mass of the water enclosed within the body of the ROV.
In my opinion the smallest worthwhile ROV is something called the Videoray, which requires quite a lot of nurturing to get stuff done, and isn't an ROV for learning on. Its main advantage is that it's very transportable being easily fitted into the boot of any car, and adaptable by having good electronics, which can daisy chain attachments to the ROV, such as UT wall thickness probes, or cathodic protection probes. I've used these offshore at -120m depth, and got good results, indeed BP used to own a couple for which I was 'their' operator: being phoned up in the morning say, and told to go to the shop which looked after the ROV's, choose the one that I wanted, take it to the heliport, and then go 'somewhere' to look at 'something', and report back. It was wonderfully mad to arrive and make it all up, without any interference from the beach! They only wanted to see results, not method.

 

[Marceline]

cheers so much again for the replys and advice and tbh I'd not even thought of how the currents would also effect the tether as it got longer.

I remember a while ago the marvellous Skylark came to help us out setting our sailboat up on the Menai Strait and getting it onto the water and when we tried lowering a heavy lead weight to calibrate/check our depth sensor, the tide just took it sideways - so I guess a heavy long tether is going to add a lot to the lil' ROV's struggles :/

Ah well - I'm parking the idea for now and have ordered a nice new GoPro12 for them and a tough extension stick to hopefully get some nice underwater shots of various plants and hopefully a few not-too-angry crabs.

Cheers so much again - it's been really helpful and very interesting to also hear a pro's experience and advice with ROVs Jamie

 

[diverd]

I have a chasing Gladius mini rov. Its probably 3 years old and the only complaint is that the props are prone to seizing unless you carefully wash them after every dive. I have used it twice not to identify debris in boat props, its self leveling and really quite easy to use. The only issue is working out which direction it is going when its a long way out. Its 100 Meter depth rated, i have had it to 50 and 60 meters a few times now. Its not fast, but manages fine in the usual currents a diver would manage

 

[Alicatt]

cheers so much again for the replys and advice and tbh I'd not even thought of how the currents would also effect the tether as it got longer.

I remember a while ago the marvellous Skylark came to help us out setting our sailboat up on the Menai Strait and getting it onto the water and when we tried lowering a heavy lead weight to calibrate/check our depth sensor, the tide just took it sideways - so I guess a heavy long tether is going to add a lot to the lil' ROV's struggles :/

Ah well - I'm parking the idea for now and have ordered a nice new GoPro12 for them and a tough extension stick to hopefully get some nice underwater shots of various plants and hopefully a few not-too-angry crabs.

Cheers so much again - it's been really helpful and very interesting to also hear a pro's experience and advice with ROVs Jamie

Met Skylark recently, a very nice gentleman and a beautiful yacht he has too.

 

[Marceline]

Yes Mr Skylark is a splendid gent - really helpful, got our boat all sorted (doubt we'd have ever figured it all out) and got us safely onto the water and starting to sail. Ever so grateful to him

 

[Marceline]

I have a chasing Gladius mini rov. Its probably 3 years old and the only complaint is that the props are prone to seizing unless you carefully wash them after every dive. I have used it twice not to identify debris in boat props, its self leveling and really quite easy to use. The only issue is working out which direction it is going when its a long way out. Its 100 Meter depth rated, i have had it to 50 and 60 meters a few times now. Its not fast, but manages fine in the usual currents a diver would manage

Thanks DiverD - the Gladius and the FiFish were the main two I was considering. We're still a season or 3 before I (hope) to make up towards Scotland and the Isles, but will keep that in mind and hopefully get one for then