Feature 3 | ROVS AND AUVS efinin eo


Aquarobotman’s new ROV is intended to serve as a “tool” for critical security and maintenance missions – and, equally, as a potentially VR-enhanced “toy”, providing live capture of underwater marine life and fauna


For instance, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) accredits 95% of global ROV activity to offshore oil and gas extraction. Despite this traditional market, however, many manufacturers and potential end users are identifying numerous diverse applications for these remotely operated solutions. Similarly, while the North Sea is


F


identified as the key hotspot for ROV operations – accounting for 35% of the active ROVs, IMCA reports – demand for this technology is also gaining rapid pace in the Asia-Pacific and Latin America regions, and particularly in countries such as China, Australia and Brazil. Unsurprisingly, this upsurge is encouraging drone tech developers within these locations to devise new solutions for their local markets. One such developer is Aquarobotman


Science & Technology Co. of Shenzhen, China, which has produced a portable underwater drone monikered the Nemo. Suggested applications include military and police observation: scientific exploration; offshore asset inspection (including maintenance of offshore fish farms); sports fishing assistance; and underwater salvage and rescue, to name but a few. Overall, the Nemo has been designed to fulfil “any underwater observation and inspection purposes”, Bob Huang, overseas sales manager at Aquarobotman, tells Ship & Boat International.


Stable solution Measuring 404mm in length, 290mm in width and 114mm in height,


the


3.4kg Nemo is capable of descending to depths of 100m, and at a top speed of 2m per second. Te unit’s main sealed cabin incorporates polycarbonates (PC) and fibre glass, while its shell has been fashioned from Polyphenylene oxide (PPO), and the company claims that it can


38


or a long time, ROV operations have remained indelibly linked to the offshore marine sector.


The 3.4kg Nemo can be launched by hand, directly from the shore or deck


operate efficiently across a temperature band spanning -20C to 350C. Depending on operational requirements,


the Nemo can be supplied with two types of Kevlar tether: a 50m-long version, weighing 0.6kg, or a 100m, 1.1kg variant. Both cable types feature a diameter of 3.8mm. The Nemo has been kitted out with five-bladed propellers and an arrangement of


four


thrusters – two set horizontally and two vertically. Te thrusters make up the unit’s patented ‘QAS-balance’ configuration, which was designed to provide optimal stability: a particular bonus when it comes to gathering video footage of its surroundings. Te compact nature of the ROV is also


intended to simplify transportation and deployment. The unit can be ordered with a specially designed, waterproof and ventilated Nemo backpack, thereby enabling the user to carry the unit, plus a couple of battery cells, aboard a plane. He or she can launch the lightweight ROV from the side of the boat, or from shore, by hand – even tossing it directly into the water. Aquarobotman has designed the Nemo


to run on the company’s in-house-produced C-Hyperhelix


brand of detachable,


waterproof, polymer lithium battery cells. Te ROV has a 4,000mAh battery capacity and can use these battery types to produce three hours of working time. Te company estimates that it should take 2.5 hours to charge each battery – so, if a user charges up a couple of these battery cells in advance, they can bring them to the operational zone for a full day’s worth of operations. Te overall weight of each C-Hyperhelix battery is 760g.


Video transfers Te customer can also incorporate a WiFi base station into the set-up. Powered by a detachable, 18650-type lithium battery, and measuring 105mm × 75mm × 159mm, this station weighs 337g and has a working period of eight hours. Imagery is captured by an ultra-HD


camera offering 150degs field of vision and capable of a maximum resolution of 4K/30fps. However, users can also specify 2.7K/30fps, 1,080p/120fps and 1,080p/30fps resolutions, depending on their preferences. A pair of LED modules, meanwhile, provides sufficient power to brighten up dark or gloomy environments, to optimise picture quality.


Ship & Boat International November/December 2018


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