RECON II - An Unmanned Remote-Operated Work Vehicle

As exploratory drilling and production progresses into greater water depths, it has become apparent that cost-effective subsea monitoring and maintenance systems must be devised. The unmanned, remotely-operated vehicle described herein represents a solution to many daily operational tasks. This paper describes in detail the design features of each major subsystem, including the operational rationale behind the feature. This vehicle, designated the RECON II, is a highly mobile, remote-controlled submersible vehicle capable of being deployed from a surface vessel with a minimum of set-up time. In addition to all necessary propulsion, buoyancy, video and instrumentation systems, the vehicle incorporates an onboard hydraulic system and manipulator system with interchangeable tools to accomplish a wide range of tasks.