This project aims to produce a complete design specification for a remotely operated vehicle. The need for ROVs in deep water applications has been increasing in the offshore industry due to its ability to work at great depths. The ROV should be able to hover in strong currents, automatically avoid obstacles out of the pilot's sight and monitor itself for structural integrity. It should also know its position relative to the front end at all times. The ROV design criteria are as follows:.
• ROV is live boated and operates from a tether management system (TMS) that weighs 1600 lb in water and houses a winch with 1000 ft of tether for the ROV.
• Maximum depth is 3000 ft.
• ROV speed in still water is designed for 2.5 kts forward, 1 kt lateral, and 1.5 kts vertical.
• South Bay Kevlar armored cable is to be used for the umbilical .
• Current profile.
Depth (ft) Current (kts) Current Direction.
0 2 N.
20 2 N.
50 1 N.
100 .5 N.
500 .25 N.
3000 .25 N.
• Components which will be incorporated:.
1. Frame (Aluminum, 110 lb in air, volume of .7 ft3, CG and CB are located at centroid).
2. Thrusters.
3. Manipulator.
4. Electronics Housing & Equipment & Gyrocompass.
5. Sonar.
6. Lights.
7. Pan and Tilt Unit.
8. Color Camera.
9. SIT Camera.
10. Termination Can (15 lb in air, 6 inch cylinder with OD of 4 in.).
11. Lead ballast.
12. Buoyancy Block.
.
DETERMINE: .
• Stability characteristics (CB, CG, GB, weight in water).
• Size of buoyancy block.
• Evaluate distance ROV can move Bow and Beam using 80% of max thrust @ 2700 ft with TMS at 2500 ft.
• Angle of tilt ROV will assume picking up 25 lb weight with manipulator.
• Thrust requirements to attain required speed in still water.
ROV design.
.
Figure 1 ROV with tether management system.
The first step in the design of the ROV was the frame, after determining the frame dimensions, all other components were added into it.
Finally after long debate, they came up with the definition: "A reprogrammable, multifunctional manipulator designed to move material, parts, tools or specialized devices, through variable programmable motions, for the performance of a variety of tasks." ... The last and most used design is the jointed-arm. ...