IR AT EC H SU B SY ST EM S 20 10 Remotely Operated Vehicle ROV INTRODUCTORY 2008 2008 1
KEY POINTS ROV Introductory ROV Development ROV Function Types of ROV ROV Crew Navigation ROV Components 2
ROV Development ROV were initially produced for military applications. The continued development was primarily due to growth in offshore oil and gas exploration. During the mid 1980 s the marine ROV industry suffered from serious stagnation in technological development caused in part by a drop in the price of oil and a global economic recession. 3
ROV Development Since then, technology development in the ROV industry has accelerated. Now a variety of new markets are finding needs for such area in oceanography, fishing, civil engineering, security, mineral prospecting and other niche industry. 4
ROV Development An ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) is an underwater robot that is used for many different underwater applications: Underwater exploration Documentation Recovery Inspection Search and Rescue Trenching Cable burial 5
ROV Development Provide solution to some of the major maritime security issues today such as: Seaport / Port Security and Surveillance Ship Inspections Pipeline Inspections Oil Rig Surveillance and Inspections Docking Perimeter Inspections and Detections Barge Inspections Docked Cruise Ship Inspections Tanker Security and Inspections 6
ROV Function ROV are free flying at the operators commands and in some instances programmed to fly in certain patterns or locations. ROV are always attached to a control center usually based above the surface. 7
ROV Function ROV and control center are attached to each other by an umbilical cable (or tether). The umbilical provides the power and data uplink between the control center and ROV. In some instances the umbilical is reinforced with strength enhancements for recoveries. 8
ROV Function Basic features on an ROV include: - Thrusters - so the ROV will be able to reposition and navigate. - Cameras and/or Hydrophones (underwater microphones) - so the crew stationed at the control center will be able to see and in some cases hear what is going on. - Various Sensors - depending on the applications, ROV s can be equipped with many different sensors such as water temperature sensors, depth sensors and sonar. 9
Types of ROV Work Class ROV s, which usually are very large in size and operated by a crew, are used for deep water trenching, cable burial, repair jobs and the recovery of large objects. These big heavy ROV s are lifted in and out of the water by cranes. Work Class ROV s are an essential world tool, making today s underwater jobs less of a challenge. 10
H SU B SY ST EM S 20 10 Types of ROV IR AT EC -The The Observation Observation or General General class ROV s ROV s are much smaller in size but perform many underwater tasks, specifically in areas where Work Class ROV s can not go, or where they just might be too large. Tasks include pipeline inspections, search and rescue operations operations, ship inspections inspections, treasure recovery recovery, port inspections inspections, etc etc. In many cases General Class ROV s can be deployed and controlled by just a couple of people. This can make jobs become easier and less expensive. ROV INTRODUCTORY 2008 2008 11
Types of ROV -The Mini and Micro class ROV s are very small in size and weight. Today s Mini Class ROV s usually weigh in around 15kg and the Micro Class can weigh as less as 3kg. Essentially one person could take the complete ROV system out with them on a small boat, deploy it and operate it with no problems. This can be very handy in many applications; and with these systems being significantly lower in price, they make for a good alternative to divers. 12
Types of ROV TRENCHING GENERAL MINI WORK CLASS MICRO 13
The ROV Crew The ROV crew Generally consists of: a Supervisor Pilot Co-Pilot / Manipulator operator. The crew is usually made up of personnel with different technical backgrounds such as: Electronics Electrical Mechanical Hydraulic. 14
The ROV Crew The responsibilities of the different crew is as follows: ROV Supervisor The ROV Supervisor discuss with the customer making sure the ROV Crew know the job at hand, he also makes sure that the operational conditions are right for the deployment of the ROV such as : Wind, Waves and Currents. The ROV Supervisor is ultimately responsible for the safety of the ROV Crew and the ROV equipment. 15
ROV Supervisor The following tasks are expected to be performed by the ROV Supervisor: General ROV operational experience 4 Years or more Knowledge of the Contract Plan the operation Management Complete Paperwork and maintenance logs Maintain spares and tools to an operational level Pilot the ROV Operate / Maintain Sonar Operate / Maintain Manipulators Operate / Maintain other special tooling Repair the ROV and the associated the equipment Be able to navigate and the ROV around the seabed and structures with no or very little through water visibility. 16
ROV Pilot / Co-Pilot The Pilot and Co-Pilot are expected to perform several different tasks such as the following: General ROV operational experience 1 Year or more Pilot the ROV Operate Sonar Operate Manipulators Operate other special tooling Repair the ROV and the associated the equipment Be able to navigate and the ROV around the seabed and structures with no or very little through water visibility. 17
Navigation Using the joystick. Piloting an ROV is a three dimensional i experience where you can (fly) the ROV up / down, forward / Aft. and sideways in general ROV's are fairly responsive and move fairly fast underwater. Unfortunately this is the main obstacle to a beginner to ROV piloting. ROV seems to have a mind of it's own. 18
Navigation To pilot an ROV is an acquired art, you have to have lots of practice ( usually on the job) and many mistakes will be made. The most critical mistake that an ROV pilot can make is to get entangled or lose the ROV. However if the ROV is entangled or otherwise stuck on the seabed or underwater structures the ultimate disgrace is inevitable when you have to call for help from another Vessel with an ROV or even worse a Diver has to come and rescue. 19
ROV Components: Frame The frame of the ROV provides a firm platform for the fixing of the necessary: Mechanical, Electrical, Propulsion components including Special Tooling such as Sonar's, Cameras, Lighting, Manipulators, Scientific Sensor and Sampling Equipment. ROV frames have been made by lots of different materials from Plastic composites to aluminum tubing, in general the materials used are chosen to give the maximum strength with the minimum weight, since weight has to be offset with Buoyancy this is very critical. The ROV frame has also to comply with international regulations concerning load and lift path strength. Typically in the UK North Sea a load factor of three (3) is used in the design and load testing of the frame. 20
ROV Components: Frame The ROV frame can be anything from a frame measuring 0.5 m x 0.5 m to 6 m x 6 m, basically there is no given size for the ROV frame, the size of the frame is dependent on the following criteria. Weight of the complete ROV unit in air Volume of the onboard equipment e Volume of the Sensors and Tooling Volume of the Buoyancy Load bearing criteria of the frame 21
ROV Components: Buoyancy Buoyancy is usually required by the ROV to offset the in water weight of the whole ROV. The preferred method of operating an ROV is to have the ROV in water weight as near to neutral as possible. Some people prefer a slightly heavy ROV and others prefer a Slight positive Buoyancy. 22
ROV Components: Control Systems The Control System controls the different functions of the ROV, from controlling the Propulsion System to switching on a Video Camera. The ROV has usually a Computer as it's Brains and Subsystem control interface, the Control System has to manage the Control linput tfrom the Operator at the Surface into actions Subsea. The data required by the Operator on the Surface to accurately determine its position in the water is collected by sensors and subsequently transmitted back to the Operator at the Surface. 23
ROV Components: Propulsion Systems Propulsion systems come in a few different types, Electrical, Hydraulic and ducted jet propulsion. The different types have developed to suit the size of vehicle and type of work expected to be performed in some cases the actual location of the work task has dictated the type of propulsion used. The main goals of all designs for a propulsion system are high thrust to physical size and power input ratio. 24
QUESTION ABOUT ROV? You may have any question or concern please contact us: Tel: (+98) 21 2230 2961 Cell: (+98) 912 300 6883 Cell: (+98) 912 357 7992 Email: info@iratech.ir www.iratech.ir 25