ROV Pool Test

Photos (top to bottom):  Members of the ROV Team (Julia, Jonathan, Damir, and Tyne) from video filmed from the SS-MS Sub.

The middle school ROV Team tested our first vehicle last week in the Club Atlantique pool, which is adjacent to the school.  All went smoothly, save for the fact that the ROV was heavy in the water.  

For my former ROVers and families, here are the specs:  The vehicle has a clean look, with all wires threaded through the frame, emerging at the back, save the single video cable, which is cable-tied to the exterior of the frame.  It is powered by a standard three 800 gpm bilge motors, two horizontal, one vertical.  The camera we're using is equivalent to the Emily Cam we had last year, available over-the-counter at Fry's Electronics and Amazon.com.  The tetherline is composed of four 18 gauge wire pairs, 10 meters long, bundled with the camera cable in a thin-walled rubber conduit, split along its length.  The control box has three momentary toggle switches, and a on/off switches for the lights.

The video cable connects to a video splitter/amp, sending a signal both to a DVD player, used as a monitor, and a video camera, for recording.  (All of these components are the same as those used last year.)  Systems are powered by two small 12v batteries, 7 and 10 amh respectively, too low for operation on the sea, but good enough for now.  I found a 12v 27 amh sealed gel battery locally for about $150, not a bad price considering the source.  In the meantime, I'm hoping to ship my recharger from California, not available locally.

For pics and video of this maiden voyage, see BOT at http://www.becauseoftime.org/ISD/ROVMission1Media.html (Gallery 5).

Next steps: Refine buoyancy, practice piloting;  do a ocean test, recalibrate buoyancy;  identify potential dive sites;  focus on logistics (what do we do once we get to a dive site), water safety, and collaboration-collaboration-collaboration.