VideoRay Smart Tether Operation

Smart Tether Positioning and Navigation System Field Operation - February 2009

By Steve Van Meter - Van Meter Consulting

Note: Some names and locations have been withheld due to the sensitivity of the operation

In February I provided a Navy Contractor a field demonstration of the VideoRay ROV system equipped with the Smart Tether navigation and positioning system and BlueView ProViewer Imaging SONAR at a former US Navy Bombing Range. The island was used by the US Navy and other military groups for many years for target practice. After protests and political action the Navy closed the range and is in the process of cleaning and removing UXO (unexploded ordinance) and debris. The plan is to turn over the land to the National Park Service who will manage it for the public. The cleanup process on the land has been ongoing for several years, now the Navy is beginning to focus on the water areas around the island range.

Van Meter with the simple setup aboard the work vessel - note the small footprint of the system

The Smart Tether Touch Screen PC fits neatly in the VideoRay Control Panel. The PC may also be used to record digital video and photographic stills.

The purpose of my three day effort was to demonstrate the ability of the VideoRay technology and accessories like the Smart Tether to search the underwater areas of the former range for UXO and mark the location of any suspect items for later recovery and destruction. The Smart Tether navigation system allows a VideoRay operator to know the real-time GPS coordinates of the ROV, and the included software has multiple useful tools for conducting searches or for marking or reacquiring target points. The Smart Tether software also has the ability to view scanned areas and marked targets in Google Earth, making it easy to geo-reference anything found during an ROV operation. This set of features made the Smart Tether ideal for this operation, as it was useful for scanning areas for UXO, marking suspect targets, and quickly reacquiring previously-marked targets.

Our objectives for the demo were to:

Use the VideoRay/Smart Tether setup to attempt to relocate previously-identified targets at a certain point off the island.
Search several areas for UXO and mark their location.
Document bottom conditions for potential buoy locations to mark the channel into the island.
Ground truth the accuracy of the Smart Tether.

All the objectives were met successfully, several old targets were relocated and excellent video of their current condition was recorded. Several areas were searched both from the beach and from a boat to evaluate the best method for conducting shoreline searches. The Smart Tether was used to document the exact areas searched and the path of the VideoRay and operations boat were recorded and displayed onto Google Earth maps downloaded from the Internet.

Close up of the Smart Tether PC Touch Screen Interface showing where the ROV has been. "X" marks the spots of targets visualy identified with the ROV.

The bottom survey of potential buoy locations resulted in several locations as being unusable due to environmental issues, new locations were checked and found to be acceptable. The VideoRay provided video of each area and the Smart Tether provided exact location data and was used to estimate the volume/area of the site.

For ground truthing the accuracy of the Smart Tether, tests were conducted on a deserted beach of the range. A high quality mapping GPS system was used to mark the location of the VideoRay and then coordinates from the Smart Tether were compared. Accuracy was found to be within the Smart Tether published specs and more than adequate for UXO recovery operations.

Sign at the site warning of unexploded ordinance

WHY VIDEORAY?

AFFORDABILITY

The VideoRay Scout starts at $5,995 (in the US) a cost quickly justified when compared to commercial dive missions or funding the purchase, mobilization, staffing, and operation of larger ROVs.

PORTABILITY

One person can transport the tiny 8-pound sub, control box and tether. The Scout system weighs less than 70 pounds and packs neatly in one rolling Pelican case. All other systems fit in two Pelican cases that can be transported in a car trunk or helicopter, or checked as airline baggage.

USABILITY

Driving the VideoRay is similar to operating a video game. A specially trained ROV pilot is not needed. (In fact, kids raised on video games routinely put adults to shame piloting VideoRay.). VideoRay is equally at home with a search and rescue team as it is with a yacht owner enjoying live views of a coral reef in St. Thomas. Additional controls on advanced models include front camera focus and tilt, rear camera selection and automatic depth holding (see the product detail pages for complete lists of features and capabilities of each model).

SAFETY

Since VideoRay uses less than 500 watts of power, a car or marine battery with inverter, small gasoline generator, or any 100-240 VAC outlet powers the control box and submersible. The current running through the tether to the submersible is a comparatively safe 48 VDC, rather than the possibly lethal 360-plus VDC used by other ROVs. This makes it safe for divers to handle the submersible in the water, and for kids to swim with it in a pool.

REACH

Standard tether lengths vary by model, but additional neutral, negative, and positively buoyant tethers can be added to extend the overall reach of the VideoRay up to 1,100 feet. Tethers are available in a variety of lengths to meet the needs of particular water conditions or projects.

THE VALUE IN VIDEORAY PRODUCTS

Durability

VideoRay's design has been perfected over years of extensive field experience. VideoRays have been deployed all over the world - from the warm, clear, calm waters of the Caribbean to hostile environments in the Arctic. VideoRays have been used in water too polluted for humans and in many places too confined or dangerous for divers to enter.

Materials and construction

Tough materials -- acrylic domes, anodized aluminum, stainless steel, and Kevlar - used in the VideoRay ensure it will withstand repeated and extended use. The careful assembly, quality controls, and pressure testing in our assembly plants ensure that each unit will continue to provide service for years.

Research and development

Our ongoing R&D, extensive spare parts supplies, and trained technicians ensure that our customers stay productive with VideoRay technology for years to come.

Warranty

Every VideoRay comes with a one-year, bumper-to-bumper warranty. This covers any failure due to defects in materials and workmanship, so long as maintenance described in the manual is performed. VideoRay also offers a support program called Advantage!. This meets the needs of our many customers who need a plan where they can count on absolute minimal downtime, a known cost for all repairs and maintenance, and an assurance of the latest technology at all times. Please click here to learn pricing and details about Advantage! .

Quality cameras

All VideoRays come equipped with a color camera. The Scouts use a fixed 420 line, 0.3 lux color camera, accompanied by two 20-watt adjustable halogen lights. The Explorers, Pro and Deep Blue Series come with high resolution 570 line, 0.1 lux color cameras, which can be tilted 160 degrees. The Pro and Deep Blue models also include rear-facing black and white cameras with 430 lines, 0.1 lux and a high-powered LED array for illumination.

Sensors

All models, except the Scout Series, include compass, depth sensor and auto depth holding capability. Pro and Deep Blue models can be augmented with a wide assortment of accessories, including grippers, positioning systems, scanning sonar and other sensors. The Deep Blue includes the SeaSprite Scanning Sonar. Computer control and instrumentation are available, along with many customizations to meet the needs of diverse underwater professions.

Depth

Scouts and Explorers are depth rated to 76 m (250 ft). The Pro models are depth rated to 152 m (500 ft), and the Deep Blue 305 m (1000 ft).

Weight

The submersible units all weigh less than 4 kilograms (9 pounds) out of the water, and each can be easily deployed by a single person by simply hanging it from its tether and lowering it in the water. The total system weight ranges from 32 kilos (70 pounds) for the Scout to 81 kilos (180 pounds) for the Deep Blue.